Too much talk by the press. By the press, by the mediators, by everybody.
They are all acting like “bvundula-madzi” (some one who stirs water on a well so that when other people come to get some water they find the well dirty and think it is their friends who stirred the water and creates enmity).
I could say of a story of two good lovers Alice and Bob to illustrate what I mean. They were inseparable everybody envied them. For one such people Eve was it was too much for her that these two friends could each other so. She decided to separate the two. She went to Alice and said Bob was cheating on her when they are not together and Eve wasn’t supposed to tell but she is telling because she loves Alice so much to hide this information from her. She suggests Alice just leave Bob and find somebody else who would appreciate her. Alice says “Thanks for letting me know. You are a true friend.”
Eve says “I could even help you find a good boy friend. I know Charlie is good christian boy and he is filthy rich not that pathetic Bob who could have guts to take your love for granted and cheat on you. You said yourself He was in love with you why don’t you give him a chance?”
Alice says “I know what you are do when I am not there”.
Bob is puzzled wants to say something but Alice is all knowing cause she trusts what Eve said and she cuts him in the middle and says “I am breaking up with you. Don’t talk to me again you liar! Cheat! Coward!” etc, etc, and storms off leaving Bob and Eve alone. She doesn’t care anymore but she so earnest and innocent she believes what Eve said was true. And she even cries as she storms off
Bob says to Eve “What’s wrong with that girl?”
Eve has an opportunity now “Open your eyes, boy. When a girl does that with no reason at all she has probably found another boyfriend trying to find a reason to break-up with you and putting on the blame on you so that it is easier”.
Reasonable. Bob thinks.
“Just wait a few days you will see what happens”. Eve says as she goes smiling to herself task one accomplished.
Alice goes and tells the Eve story to Charlie crying and says “I am sorry for I did not give you a chance but now I am willing if you still love me. It’s just that I was so blinded by my love for Bob that I did not see the better side of you.”
The next day Bob was supposed to meet Alice at their favourite park. Alice goes there with Charlie. And Bob meets them Alice ignores Bob looking at him as trash holding Charlie’s hand to make it obvious she is now Charlie’s girl. Bob stands there mouth open. Eve passing by says to Bob “You see?” Smiles as she goes: mission accomplished.
When there are too many mediators and too many words said and these said to each party separately, instead of reconciling them they might be taken further apart. An example would be how Muluzi and Bingu were broken up. These people were hearing only what the press said which was always exaggerated a simple matter(to make news) that could be resolved if these two could sit down and understand each other.
The press catches a phrase that one says and broadcasts without the context in which it was said. And this is usually said after the reporter has trapped the person to make him say what they want him to say. This repeated so many times makes people see whoever said it Bad or Good according to what the reporter wanted to accomplish because repeated so many times people forget what context they were said and the words start meaning something else. In other words the reporter has that power to build and break with the words they say. And sometimes they have good intentions but saying so many things and repeating them so many times worsens instead of making better. Proverbs 10:19 say “In a multitude of words there lacks not the presence of sin, but he who refrains his lips is wise”.
In Kibaki and Odinga’s case The BBC phrase says “Kibaki says is ready for government of national unity, but Odinga warily refuses” This is repeated so many times and usually in absence of what Odinga says that he has been through this before a government of national unity doesn’t really help (I am sure this was the case previously). It’s like he has tried to be tolerant with Kibaki for peace’ sake but his tolerance hasn’t made things better and the solution which he has been patiently waiting has been unfairly run in favour of Kibaki. The phrase seems to have been carefully said to make Odinga bad. While seeming to be covering both sides of the story by also quoting Odinga’s exact words repeating the phrase so much doesn’t help because that’s what is planted in peoples minds.
The press has been very vocal and often with misquotes of the two parties. The foreign mediators who may have a reputation that their wisdom has solved some problems somewhere go there with pride with what they may have learned in class (or pre-thought solutions) about what to say in such cases a case they do not really understand as the only information they have is probably what they have held from press. They go to Kibaki and suggest to Kibaki and suggests a government of national unity(GNU) a thing which Kibaki will obviously agree to (As this still puts him in power which he wants) and Odinga won’t. Odinga disagrees and that makes him bad because he doesn’t want a solution that the “wise” suggest. Odinga wanted a recount of the votes(Which is a fair solution). If Kibaki was confident he worn fairly he shouldn’t refuse a recount. There have been sayings that the announcement of votes in some areas wasn’t done transparently which makes Odinga doubt Kibaki’s winning. And this won’t go well with him until that doubt is removed. A wise mediator would pretend not to have heard anything the press is preaching and goes to investigate what really happened hear from both the two and bring them together let them talk. He referees letting the two agree on a solution. He should not suggest a solution. But if suggests a solution he does not go out unless the two agree to that solution. The problem comes from the press which would usually scratches on the healing words of the disagreement even when the two have reconciled. The mediator should make sure the press is clearly informed that the two have reconciled their differences before these two hear anything from the press again. And He shouldn’t shake hands and take pictures with one party before the other agrees to the solution as was depicted on the BBC. If he has failed to reconciled the too he should dust his feet and go silently. Shaking hands makes me feel like whoever the mediator was had already made up his mind he wants Kibaki should remain president. And having suggested a GNU which favours Kibaki, anyway, makes Kibaki feel justified in what he is doing to suppress protestors because the West whom most look at with high regard is backing him up(Still wants him to be president in suggesting a GNU). If the West kept itself out of this or just help by getting these two to talk and find a solution and not suggesting one it would turn better. A recount or revote is a better solution to me.
And the press, Please reduce too much talk.