Protesting the BBC's negativity about Zimbabwe

I am extremely concerned that reports recent trumpeted by the BBC as signifying political violence in Zimbabwe may have been about events manufactured by the BBC themselves.

The coincidences in the whole saga, in terms of place time and duration are rather odd. How could the violence occur at exactly the place and time where the BBC crew are, and only last for as long as they are there? Yet the putting of posters all over Harare including Mbare had been going on for weeks. What sets a cacophony of bells ringing is that the BBC crew flew in and out of the country just in time to catch that particular incident of violence. 

Needless to say such reports create extremely negative perceptions about Zimbabwe in general, not just the political organization targeted by the negativity. This has strong consequences in the way we Zimbabweans are treated in our travels, irrespective of our political affiliations or lack thereof.

Such reports are also used to justify continued sanctions against Zimbabwe by Western powers. I would therefore consider it wise for the Zimbabwe government to lodge a formal complaint on all our behalf, with the British Foreign Office.  Since the British also use such incidents to also justify and push for EU sanctions against Zimbabwe I would suggest that a formal note also be sent to the EU, so that they are aware what kind of designs Zimbabwe is dealing with.

On my part, as a concerned Zimbabwean, I have already lodged a formal complaint with the BBC. You can complain by phoning them on 0044 3700 100 222, writing to them at BBC Complaints, PO Box 1922, Darlington, DL3 0UR, United Kingdom or lodging an online complaint at the site http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/. Don’t forget to mention that this is about events at Matapi flats in Mbare.

I also understand that the BBC crew and some of the people with them had water thrown at them by the irate residents of Matapi flats. This is the cultural equivalent of having a shoe thrown at you in the Middle East. I suggest they watch the drama film about Sabhuku Vharazipi, or the video for the song Maria by Jah Prayzah, to understand what kind of annoying nuisances normally have water thrown at them.