Blog Believers/ Email Forwarders/ Gossip Mongers Beware
We all know it's not easy to be a Zimbabwean at the moment: whether you live far away;
just across the border; or still in the country.
It's depressing having the rest of the world feeling sorry for you, especially when you
know what life used to be like.
No one is excused from being responsible for what is going on there. We all played a part
in enjoying the country at its best, and we should all be playing a part trying to get the
country out of its worst.
That is why our course and cause must not be swayed or diverted by malicious gossip/
rumors/ hearsay. We are all in this together. We are all in this together. We are all in this
together. I can't say it enough.
We need to remember that and back each other up, because once cracks are revealed, the
opportunists will jump at the chance to make them wider and deeper.
Propaganda is Everywhere
It has long been a well-known fact that the people in charge in Zimbabwe have
professional, full-time "spin-doctors" or "propaganda distributors, " whose only purpose is
to manipulate the population.
Now, it is not only those in rural areas who find themselves influenced in some way.
These spin doctors pour over contents on the web, on news sites, garnering any
information they can to use against the general population of the country who don't know
any better.
The majority of the population doesn't have google to source-check and fact-check
whatever information is handed to them. Heck, often times google lies. It just picks up key
words, it doesn't discriminate the truth from the lies.
Our folk in the rural areas don't have access to the New York Times, BBC, Sky, the Mail and
Guardian etc. Independent news organizations whose job it is to report the truth and
nothing but.
Experts Make Mistakes
Even the most prestigious newspapers and news networks mentioned above make
mistakes. Usually they are held accountable, if not by themselves, then by the other
network or newspapers in competition to them.
A friend of mine who works in the news in South Africa was recently invited to a human
rights organization's "report" on Zimbabwe.
It's a legitimate, well-respected organization, who has been involved in Zimbabwe and
other African regions in conflict for many years.
Turns out the writers of this report, well respected sociologists with doctorate degrees in
crisis management and the like, had been taken for a ride by the propaganda machine that
is the Zimbabwean state-controlled media.
These experts had inadvertently become mouth pieces for the ruling party, and they didn't
even know it. They had taken what an official linked to the upper echelons said to be true,
as the truth, and used nothing other than a state-controlled Sunday paper to fact-check
their source.
Perhaps in South Africa that would work fine, but here in Zimbabwe, we know better than
to believe what is in the local news.
What they were saying was dangerous. It could have caused a lot of harm to a lot of
innocent people if taken to be true. The experts had no idea.
Luckily, the journalists at the event knew better. After questioning the sociologists, they
quickly established that there were no hard facts or evidence to back up what they were saying.
But imagine if they didn't do that, if they ran with the story? It was a sensational story,
would have been an absolute scoop if it was true, but it wasn't, and if used irresponsibly it
could have cost lives.
It looks like News...
Not everything you read on the internet is true.
Many of us, and I admit that I have been fooled many times, accept whatever is in front of
us as the truth because it is in print. That's no longer the case today. Just because it looks
like news: with sources; quotation marks and bylines; doesn't necessarily make it news
and certainly it does not make it the truth...
Just because an email was forwarded to you by a friend of yours that you respect and
admire doesn't make it true.
Guess what - for U.S $50 a month, someone can start a web site, and publish absolutely
anything they want? It is called freedom of speech, something we as Zimbabweans know
little about. You can say just about anything. It is useful, because now anyone, anywhere,
can put their ideas in the public domain.
It is also dangerous. Now any crazy whacko can write anything they want, starting
damaging rumors.
Next thing you know it's being quoted as true by experts, then it's on the legitimate news.
Suddenly we have a full-blown crisis on our hands and some mischievous, skinny 16-
year-old in Nasville, Tennesee, is clapping his hands in glee at the havoc he has created.
In Zimbabwe, there are people whose job it is to lie. To write lies and publish them in the
public domain for someone respected to copy and paste into an email and forward to all of
his friends. Suddenly-it might be true, because my friend so and so knows what he is
talking about.
Unless a person can be held responsible through a libel or malicious intent law-suit, the
writings of that person should be regarded as hearsay or opinion and nothing more.
Fact-check. Ask questions. Don't allow yourselves to fall into the trap. Believe in your
fellow man. If you don't have time to do it yourself, forward it to Sky News and see if they
run with it. They have professionals whose full-time job it is to figure out if this is real or
made-up lies.
We are all in this together. We have to remember that. Because right now it is all we have.
Kenneth James Turley, (6/13/24 - 6/30/08) beloved father of Michael and Caryn and
grandfather (Tops) of Livia and Mitchell Greenspan, passed away peacefully in Mutare,
Zimbabwe with his dear friends, Belinda and John and Sister Sipho at his side. Thank you
for being with him and all that you did for him in his final years. He loved life and lived it
to the fullest with a positive attitude. He loved everyone and criticized none. May we all
live by his standards. I would like to thank you for keeping my dad and Zimbabwe in your
prayers over the past several months. Whilst we must still keep praying for Zimbabwe to
recover, I am afraid to say that our darling dad will not.
Thanks for being great friends!
Pray for Zimbabwe!
Love
Michael, Caryn, Livia and Mitchell
From: carynagreenspan@ cfl.rr.com
DEATH NOTICE.
WILLIAMS - Andrew Muir.
12.4.1942 - 3.7.2008
Passed away peacefully at Ralstein House, Bulawayo on 3rd July, 2008.
Fondly remembered by family and friends.
With love from his two brothers and respective families.
Dave & Gwen Williams, Bill, Natasha, Roland, Alida, Katya, Sasha, Sarah and Emma.
Hollie & Helen Clarkson, Andrew & Clare, Graeme, Chantal & Chloe, Sean, Liam, Michelle &
Mathieson.
"May your soul rest in peace and may your shadow never grow shorter."
Jurick Goldwasser
Our deepest sympathy to Tanja, Rachelle, Derek, Colby, Jenna and family members on the
passing of your husband, father and grandfather. Out thought are with you during this
difficult time. Alice and Graham Mayger
In Memorium
GILLIES David (30.6.08)
Precious brother and son gone 4 years.
We remember all the joy you brought
When upon you we would call.
And as we re-live each memory,
Once again our tears fall.
Nothing has ever been the same
Since that day you died.
You were finally coming home
Until that horrible accident took your life.
You were our best friend and brother
You helped us in so many ways.
But even though your gone
We still remember you today.
Why did you have to have the accident
Why were you the one taken away.
We ask ourselves those questions
Each and everyday.
You were so great.
We just don't understand why you had to die,
You meant everything to us
Why couldn't God spare your life.
We miss you more than you'll ever know.
With love
Mom, Dad and Bridge
Mitchley - Charles Walter
Our deepest sympathies to the all the family on the loss of Charles
Our love to you all
Dave and Bernice Sanger (England)
Maureen and Laurie Bond (New Zealand)
Maureen Bond maureenybond@ gmail.com
John Edington
To all the Shooters
It had been my intention to have a Memorial Wake for Tiggs as a gesture of
thanks to all you good fellows for the happy days at Wollendale.
Circumstances are now very difficult for us all that it is no longer possible.
I found the following verse in his file:
"If I should go before the rest of you
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone
Nor when I am gone speak in a Sunday voice
But be the usual selves that I have known
Weep if you must, it's good to shed a tear
But life goes on, so have another beer!"
It was a great shock when I read about the passing of Mrs Powell.
She was a very lovely woman and will surely be missed by many. I had the privilege of
being one of the many pupils at Convent School while she was still the Headmistress and
what a lovely lady indeed.
MHDSRIP
Megan Mayers
Notice
Jean Patrica Clark daughter of Ronald Edward Clark and Ann Patrica Clark suddenly passed
away on the 2nd July 2008. Was loved by all her knew her and will be sadly missed.
Never doubt that a small committed group can make the world a better and more tranquil
place.
- John Lennon -
FOR FREEDOM IN ZIMBABWE
I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be
I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance
I'll be right where I belong
Down an unknown road
To embrace my fate
Though the road may wander
It will lead me to you
And a thousand years
Would be worth the wait
It may take a lifetime
But somehow I'll see it through
Hercules Soundtrack
"Nil carborundum illegitimi"
"When evil men plot, good men must plan.
When evil men burn and bomb,
good men must build and bind.
When evil men shout ugly words of hatred,
good men must commit themselves to the glories of love.
Where evil men would seek to perpetuate an unjust status quo, good men must
seek to bring into being a real order of justice".
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