admincomes to reporting business news. There was an inclination to report figures and deals without looking at the bigger political context within which these were taking place.
For instance, it was easy to celebrate the “business” investments of the likes of British mogul Sir Richard Branson without bothering to bring to light his political connections and capitalist-imperial proclivities.
Or business journalists could celebrate the rise of black businesspeople – whose company they name, say, after a local bird – without interrogating how the black people have become a front for foreign interests.
One could also question the morality of investments.
“It’s not as business as usual,” concluded the official to that effect. He said: “From now business stories become political and the political, business.”
This is one tale that comes to mind in light of the visit of an American business delegation to the country for “to market Zimbabwe as a safe investment destination”, under the banner of “Doing Business in Zimbabwe”.
Some critics, including this writer, have in the past questioned the sincerity of America’s interest in “Doing business in Zimbabwe” which poor southern African country mighty America has sanctioned for daring to assert total independence.
The mighty America has apparently now deployed its black fronts to scout for opportunities here, which are very much willing to talk and praise us. One analyst said that the mighty could not have fallen altogether yet but are falling slowly and are trying to even use their oppressed mortals to help keep the pedestal.
Another giant is eyeing the same pedestal and has been using friendship with the oppressed to rise to the top. The former giant now has to creep back using the same channel, this time using the friendlier-looking faces. But deep down the bosom of the hard-hearted partner it is business as US-ual!
It must remain lord over all. It will be useful to demonstrate how Zimbabwe might come to grief through the efforts of black brothers deployed by Uncle Sam. (In fact, Zimbabwe already is, thanks to brothers and sisters from our very villages and hoods.)
Take the interview that Melvin Reynolds, a former Congressman, granted to a weekly recently as he and his delegation came in the “crusade to market Zimbabwe”. The delegation was led by businessman Elzie Higginbottom. Reynolds makes critical remarks that, when read between the lines, might show just how Zimbabwe can at best afford to sleep with one eye open going into bed with the delegation.
Here are some of his comments taken randomly from the interview:
l “All business people are looking for profit from their investments but in this case the group is also looking to empower the people of Zimbabwe through their (the group’s) investments.”
l ” . . . my personal view is that President Mugabe is one of the last Lions of Africa that brought freedom to the people of this Great Continent. In accessing President Mugabe in today’s context, one must never lose sight of that fact. Africans can debate all day as to how a country should or must be run, but it should be impossible to forget those who made it possible to be able to debate as a free people.”
l “This new business initiative with Zimbabwe will indeed be headed by leaders of the African American community, but we will bring to the table all of the talents and resources that America has to offer from all its people.”
l” . . . sanctions (Zidera, imposed by America in 2001) are not against the people of Zimbabwe and therefore do not stop those (that) have the will to do business here in Zimbabwe.”
The first two points can be read together.
Apparently, Reynolds seeks to endear himself to the people of Zimbabwe by claiming that America seeks to “empower” them through investments.
Is this not an effort to rubbish the genuine empowerment of the people of Zimbabwe by giving them majority control of the economy? Does Reynolds not sound like he is reading from the script of some people here who are opposed to indigenisation as currently driven by President Mugabe?
Then comes Reynolds’ view of the President.
Despite, or because of, his patronising of President Mugabe as a “Last Lion of Africa”, Reynolds seems to suggest that President Mugabe belongs to the past and does not belong to now and the future.
If he knew anything about empowerment of people, he would have told us how he and his country would cement the empowerment efforts of President Mugabe who has initiated land reform and the current indigenisation drive. He couldn’t; he wouldn’t and believes the likes of President Mugabe should allow “debate as a free people” from the distance of his legacy.
The third excerpt above reinforces that which many feared – namely that blacks are mere fronts.
Reynolds, perhaps inadvertently, gives this away saying today its African American business tomorrow it’s “all of the talents and resources that America has to offer from all its people.”
Does this not remind one of the tale of the camel that sought shelter in a tent, first only for its cold nose?
The last point betrays the deception and arrogance of Reynolds as an agent of US establishment.
Although the sanctions are in black and white and are intended to make the economy scream some people deny their existence or if they do, they label them “targeted” all to mask the intentions of the US to effect regime change in Zimbabwe. Reynolds chose the latter tactic. Acres of space have been already expended over the years to see through the deception and prevarication.
It will not do anybody any good for more to be spent here. But this is one point that will definitely inform all those “Doing business with Black Americans” what kind of people they are.
It will be useful as well to note that Reynolds is not particularly a person free from controversy having been in 1995 convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault, obstruction of justice and solicitation of child pornography, which earned him some five years behind bars. In 1997 he also was convicted of 15 counts of bank fraud, adding another six and half years. His sentence was commuted by then Bill Clinton, upon the request of Rev Jesse Jackson, on his last day in office. Interestingly, Rev Jackson is part of the charade of “Doing business in Zimbabwe”.
By the way, who made it difficult to do business in and with Zimbabwe but the West, which sought and still seeks, to torpedo the revolution of Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe, as the Persian Gulf of minerals and other resources – human and natural – has but marketed itself for business since the around the times of Munhumutapa Empire where it received traders from as far as Portugal, China and Iran.
Indeed, it will be a disservice to its legacy to trust some black somebodies acting as a front for some imperial interests to help “market” it as a “safe investment destination”. It is; has been. Only that those willing to invest must wake up to the reality that Zimbabwe seeks self-determination.
It is time to get Higgin the bottom of the matter!
Online Reporter