What are you reading?
GENERALLY, speaking communication is critical in the life of all systems. In the extreme of circumstances, it becomes a matter of life and/ or death. In less extreme circumstances reduced [level] communication often results in lower [level] outcomes than intended.
As an illustration, let us give a simple example here: Imagine someone instructing another person by phone in a farming (operational) set up.
They instruct them to apply say, 650 kg of fertiliser per hectare but because of a poor network they, hear a figure of 550kg instead.
Obviously, the receiver ends up under applying the fertiliser by 100kg.
Other things being equal, there will be a reduction in yield of a proportional amount.
Today there are many tools of communication. In some cases, voice communication is the cheapest and most appropriate medium of communication but when the distance between the sender and the receiver of that communication increases beyond a certain level, this method becomes ineffective.
This is where other means of communication become more appropriate.
In this piece we are mostly concerned with writing and reading as a means of communication. In such a case, one reads communication that someone has written first.
So here, two components of the said communication become critical.
These are the writer who in most cases is [the] conveyor of that communication.
Then there is the receiver who in this case, is its reader.
People who write stuff for others to read are very important in life.
This capacity imparts considerable power to them. Paradoxically, in most cases, they become victims of certain forces, some of the latter being very powerful themselves.
That being the case, analysts of all here — some of whom are writers and playwrights themselves — have realised this condition of writers, whom they sometimes refer to as authors and journalists. (Sometimes singers, comedians, painters and artists, perform a related function).
These analysts have coined a few adages about them.
The one that easily comes to mind here is: “The pen is mightier than the sword”, by Edward Bulwer-Lytton; a novelist and playwriting in 1839.
From this elucidation so far, it becomes easier to appreciate the criticality of this phenomenon— especially to mankind.
At this juncture, let us go back to the receiver of the communicated word—if we may call it that. Here we find his capacity to receive this communication to be critical.
In order for their capacity for same, to be adequate and even better, they need the right instruments for the function or task as it were.
Here we find such attributes as a good eyesight, a sharp ear, a high reading ability and an understanding of the subject being discussed, being critical depending on the method by with which that communication has been, or is being transmitted.
The current world order is one where a high and, not just basic, level of literacy becomes critical. This is so since the level of technological advancement has risen dramatically in the past decade or so.
In such circumstances, it is critical for the reader of the said communication, to understand it well. In addition, they have to have a sound understanding of the world around them.
Anything short of this level of understanding will impact negatively on them, one way or the other.
This is why in the developed world; the people are generally better off than those in the underdeveloped world.
They are able to decipher between genuine, false and sometimes (deliberately) deceptive information.
That way, they are less prone to false propaganda, and other negative influences and/or vices propagated by those in power.
Consequently, they make a better (informed) electorate. In this day of democracy and human rights, there is no tool better than this.
At this juncture, let us zero in on Zimbabwe, a country full of paradoxes and ironies today.
A lot has happened in this country in the period before and after independence in 1980.
Here, one can write volumes of stories and narratives about our situation.
But ironically, Zimbabweans have somehow, lost the culture of reading if ever they had one. In this case, there are quite a few explanations for our self-inflicted low level of literacy—if we may call it that.
Some of us claim that we are the most literate country in Africa.
Through such a view, they go no to claim that we are in the top tier of the world with regard to this parameter.
On the other hand, there are those of us who argue vehemently against this view.
So in the end, the whole matter becomes political propaganda designed to counter the achievements of a regime that ironically, has been largely responsible for the literary achievement of those who are now attacking it.
But if the truth be told, there is considerable variation in the level of literacy between the two extremes of a zero and (a) high literacy level.
And it is not an exaggeration to posit that, the further one is from an urban or education(al) centre, the lower the level of literacy in that area.
Then there is the aspect of the nature, purpose and/or quality of the material one is reading or is supposed to read.
This is where the practice of censoring information comes into the equation.
Here we come across area that is frightening but fascinating all the same.
This is the realm within which we find those powerful forces trying to arm twist the purveyors of information—that is, those individuals and entities elucidated above.
They do this because they worry about the effect the said information will have on its receiver(s).
So here, let us analyse the reasons and (the) nature of this action /strategy and attitude of censoring this information.
Here are some of the reasons: Their weaknesses will be revealed, thus making them vulnerable to possible attacks(s) by the enemy.
In some cases, the target of the propaganda will have their eyes opened by that information and as a result, (they) will become alert and therefore, better able to avert the damage intended by their enemy. In other cases in the business context, a competitor will be able to learn more about the strength of their competition, thus copying and sometimes improving on the product concerned and as a result, beating them in the marketplace.
This practice is taking place all the time. One example here, is that of Boeing and Fokker. In the tech arena today there is a lot of such cases.
Back to Zimbabwe:
In this country misinformation has become the main diet in the past three decades.
Interestingly, this practice started during the period from the mid nineteen sixties when the war of liberation was being fought.
It went underground for a while, then it resurfaced from about the mid nineteen seventies up to today where it has escalated to a dysfunctional level.
So why are Zimbabweans addicted to this practice today?
There are a number of reasons for this state of affairs. However, without appropriate and adequate research on the subject, it is not possible here, to quantify or qualify their impact on the populace and economy, suffice to say that their impact has been largely negative on both.
Nevertheless, let us delve into the matter here. Firstly, there is a culture of wheeling and dealing in which cheating is the main tool. Related to this culture is one of corruption.
Then there is the culture of speculation that is connected to the one of wheeling and dealing.
Related to these three, is the culture of theft, deception, document manipulation, avoidance of authority and its attendant controls, and other minor but still impactful, practices.
In the business arena such a culture leads to a lower governance level, cheating on product quality, and so forth.
This latter malady is quite detrimental to the economy as it impacts negatively on our capacity to manufacture goods that qualify in the regional and world trade arena.
In such a case, compare Zimbabwe and South Africa, an African country but one that is, to some extent, industrialised.
In these circumstances, one finds that blacks are the biggest culprits.
So the next question to ask here is this: Is it a question of race; one of [the] development [level], or both? Here the reader should find the answer for themselves.
In some cases, Zimbabweans are often found cheating or misinforming authorities in the countries to which they emigrate. During such practices, they inadvertently cheat on their identity. This is another matter that has inflicted considerable damage to their being.
On recognising this dilemma, Shingie Fundira, a young Zimbabwean woman, has written a book titled; Identity Crisis: Unlock the Hidden Treasure Within you. (I have not yet read this book myself, but I shall definitely look for it). To my mind, this book should be made a set book at the Advanced Level in this country.
Sadly, Zimbabweans—mostly (the) young ones— are sometimes not aware, or even conscious of this damage, whose predilection centre has subtly become their psyche.
Now, let us go back to our attitude to reading in this country.
Firstly, we have to consider the environment in which this activity should be practiced.
If and when we do this, we come across an alarming realisation. Today there are virtually no public facilities to facilitate the reading culture in this country.
There are virtually no public libraries—at least those stocked with books and other reading materials.
In this case, some of us may argue that these are no longer necessary since we now have e-books that anyone can access through their cell phones and computers.
But this is false thinking to say the least. In order to better appreciate this argument, consider the situation in both the developed and emerging economies.
In those environs one comes across libraries and bookstores—sometimes expansive outfits—that are stocked with newly published and old publications.
In most cases these bookstores are found located at strategic locations, such as universities and international airports.
Here, consider that the bookstore at the Robert Mugabe Airport is a small and rather miserable outfit with a few publications.
Juxtapose this bookstore beside the Oliver Tambo Airport bookstore — a relatively small outfit by world standards — and you will be amazed by the difference between them. The latter is nearly ten times the size of the former.
Here again, someone may argue that printed books are cumbersome to carry around but this too, is false thinking.
Here are my reasons for arguing this way. Printed material is easy to access.
No electricity is required here, so you can access it any time at will, provided you have alternative sources of light, of which the natural form is the cheapest.
Secondly, you can revisit any interesting part of the book more easily and faster.
And this is cheap, no need to print or to scan—an exercise that is quite difficult on small phones and iPads.
And there is less risk of damage by fire or internal heat.
Ultimately, the book is the information store for the poor. So under our conditions of relative poverty, it is the best option.
Moreover, poor people can also access the material either in public libraries or by borrowing from others. In some cases it is possible to buy second hand books that are usually quite affordable, from appropriate bookstores.
Today Zimbabweans have been beaten by the social media bug, but beware, there are serious challenges in this media. Firstly, there is the gossip that is flavoured with exaggerations tinged with misinformation. Secondly, the people you are conversing with most of the time, are usually at the same intellectual level with you. So here, chances are that your learning is largely determined by theirs.
Compare this situation with one where you are attending lessons on either media—that is, the computer, and the classroom—being delivered by someone who is more learned than you.
He/she has very little time to chit chat as compared to your compatriots on Whatsapp, Twitter, Facebook, U tube, etc.
Sadly, in this country today, over fifty percent or more of our time is spent on these media. Sometimes you even find someone trying to do manual work while, at the same time, attending to these media. Nothing is more dangerous than such habits.