Aaron Gono
As the Fourth Estate can contribute to the development of a country; it can also create acrimony along tribal lines by careless stereotypes of certain tribes.
That’s why you witness the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe creating laws that tell the citizens of Zimbabwe to behave. Even developed countries are also trying to curb the impact of Artificial Intelligence; they are telling big tech companies to be responsible enough.
The Fourth Estate in Zimbabwe is now busy creating stories that sell (tablodization). They no longer verify much of the facts supplied to them. Every media house wants to get a scoop. This leads them to leave tangible facts to the dogs. Most stories in Zimbabwe are sorts of ” weekend specials.” They appear in newspapers for some few days and disappear forever, not to hear or see them again. Critics of enlightenment call this ” Hit and Run Journalism.”
That’s why politicians in this country get away with murder. They promise a lot when seeking to occupy offices. Once elected to the august house, their mission will be accomplished. No visits to the electorate who made their lunches until after five years.
They come again with rubbish instead of bon mots. The Fourth Estate will be once again scrambling to get their fake manifestos to publish. The duty of the Fourth Estate is to make these legislators fulfill the promises they made during their campaigns.
Selby Taylor, Archbishop of Cape Town in November 1971 said “We are not seeking a confrontation with the state, nor are we seeking to avoid it. We are standing on Christian principles.” He was very, very right by asking legislators or head of state to protect its citizens despite dissenting voices.
This also fits well in the 21st century ,asking legislators to fulfill promises made during campaigns is not sabotage or insurrection. That’s is the only human right observed in developed countries. Legislators don’t keep grudges with the media.
As we witness accidents caused daily by reckless drivers; few have been punished. The Zebra Kiss and Rimbi buses were banned for less than two weeks after a fatal crash along the Mt Darwin road. Once the people started forgetting about the incident, the ban was lifted.
Also the Fourth Estate forgot the story. Artisanal miners are killing each other daily. The Fourth Estate only rush to get a scoop; and never make an attempt to keep on writing awareness on the loopholes of the industry.
On 7 September 2024, a horrific accident took place at Chaka business center, which claimed the lives of four bystanders. Much noise was made about putting humps at the shops, to reduce speed. Only two weeks have gone and the advocacy is now in quarantine. The Fourth Estate is also in moribund. So who will help the meek?
Schools along the highway have also learnt nothing, forgotten nothing, and seen nothing. At Gokomere Mission, ECD kids can be seen crossing the road from the adjacent Muzondo and Mangenge villages unaccompanied to the school.
At Matova Mission, school kids witnessed a fatal crash of one pupil last year, and they now resort to using the abandoned Masimba detour road.
Big up to the Matova school staff. You have learnt something, and seen something and you won’t forget something. At St. Stanislaus Schools, despite fatal accidents along the road, everyone has learnt nothing, forgotten nothing, and seen nothing.
The school kids don’t respect vehicles, they also behave like ones. At Chaka primary school, the primary school authorities don’t release ECD pupils without the signature of the parent or guardian. At Gonawapotera secondary school, the pupils behave like their other Roman Catholic pupils at St. Stanislaus.
The human brain or mind is made like a sponge, it quickly seeps in water and quickly releases it. So the Fourth Estate you gotta a duty to keep on reminding the sponge about the rough effects of dryness. The group think of media houses in Zimbabwe must stop and begin to make an impact to your readers.
Asante sana (thank you ).
