The Sunday Mail
POURING scorn on each other and casting others in bad light has somehow become the in-thing.
There are characters who seemingly never find it awkward to always speak ill of others.
Only last week, Zimbabweans woke up to the news that erstwhile “Studio 263” actress Tinopona “Tin-Tin” Katsande had fallen on bad times and was selling eggs to make ends meet. Though calculated to present the socialite as a charity case, it later turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the actress.
She actually got massive orders from well-meaning Zimbabweans who blessed her hustle.
We live in a world infested with weevils bent on destroying others to a point where anything positive is ignored while negatives are exaggerated.
Called “shaisano”, “kutsonda”, “back-biting” or “pull him down syndrome”, this is a disease most people will take with them to their grave.
“Chinonzi huroyi varume hakusi kubuda husiku chete,
Tsika nemagariro zvinotaura, zvichiratidza,
Kuchiva kutambura kwemumwe asina mhosva newe,
Ndihoka huroyi pahunotanga napo,” sang Madzibaba Nicholas Zacharia in this old gem “Huroyi.”
True to the song, there are many who think they can easily decide on other people’s fate.
This is why you find in some instances there are people who object to the neighbour’s choice for a wife simply because they consider her low class.
“That guy is a qualified accountant who has access to all the beautiful women in the world and I do not know why he took Revai for a wife. Apart from being ugly, she has very little exposure and I do not think she has ever enjoyed a meal in a hotel,” you hear some women saying while doing laundry in the polluted Mukuvisi River near Glen Norah.
“He is educated, yes, but lacks life skills. He should have left us to choose a suitable wife for him,” they will say while giggling and clapping hands.
So consumed with hate and disdain for other people that they will even pay you a visit at the office to discuss issues that least concern them.
“Mwanangu, this white hair means much. I have seen a lot. That woman your younger brother intends to marry is not good at all. Are you aware that three of her elder sisters were divorced for cheating?
“I do not want the same to happen to your younger brother. I suggest the young man reconsider his position. We can give him my virgin daughter instead,” you are told straight in the eye.
The workplace is also awash with such characters.
These people will always seize every opportunity they have with the boss to pass negative comments about workmates they dislike.
“Good morning boss. This new supervisor you gave us is something else. Have you noticed that he is always reeking booze and uses juju? That is why he is always spotting a black jacket. He is also foul-mouthed.
“He knows purely nothing about the functions of the department and very soon you will see production going down. We need to save the company and don’t say I didn’t tell you so,” the boss will be told at every turn.
Good people are losing opportunities to make meaningful contributions to communities, companies and even places of worship because of unnecessary negative comments that are passed against them by people who are consumed with hate.
“He is a good gentleman but he does not have the muscle to command the big post you are giving him. He needs to start somewhere low so that he gathers enough experience,” you hear some people saying while trying to block someone’s promotion.
The pull-him-down syndrome is an age-old challenge we must nip in the bud.
As I write this, there are some people losing sleep because they want to know whether their acquaintance rightfully own the vehicles they drive and the houses they live in.
Inotambika mughetto.
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