Giving dignity to one’s profession
3 min read
By Margaret Kamba
The screaming headline by the Newsday of 10 October 2021 ‘ED admits to party chaos’ must have gotten the due attention from a number of people to which it was intended. Harm intended or whatever the agenda was, only the few in that decision making process to give that headline know and perhaps measured the impact of the headline and would do it again as many times over.
It is almost common knowledge in the media and advertising world that the headline must be catchy in order to make huge sales. Those who have no idea about this blindly buy in order to feed their curiosity yet falling into the trap of the one who has designed the whole package.
We have seen headlines about popular figures only to read the story and see that it is an almost nobody somewhere in a village literally nowhere. If you have spent your money on the paper, you know it is a huge loss especially if there is nothing else of interest in it.
It is a malpractice to deceive consumers in whatever way and the manufacturer is usually silent on the negative effects of their product only sharing what they perceive is less harmful. The advertisement of cigarettes is silently ‘smoking may be hazardous to health’ but largely showing a man or woman looking extremely macho or beautiful while taking a few puffs from it. The hidden tales are those of suffering men and women many years in life after the negative effects of the nicotine and whatever else takes its toll on the body.
A few people have managed to sue some companies for selectively divulging some information and have been successful at it. Some companies have received retractions from media outlets for printing less factual information about their companies.
There is something about each profession which makes it peculiar or otherwise. It could be the behavior of those found in that profession that could make it viewed in a negative or positive way. Whatever it is, we tend to bracket journalists in a certain way because one or two rotten apples have decided to go rogue and tarnish the image.
For instance, there is always something that comes with commuter omnibus drivers which makes it almost a given that when one sits on that steering wheel they seemingly automatically become that way. It however does not necessarily follow that because there is certain thinking about the Central Intelligence Office or the doctors, all are what they are. Why this is so, is because there are people who know how to give their professions dignity.
A code of conduct in certain field for instance the Law Society of Zimbabwe or any other should be able to guide whosoever is in that profession even with their different characteristics. The hand has different size fingers but which serve one purpose.
Any negative behavior by any individual within a certain company brands that particular institution. Even in family settings, if one or two family members exhibit a promiscuous behavior, whether or not the others are the same, they are all just branded that way which may prejudice them from getting the much needed attention be it in marriage or otherwise.
The few cases of violence that have been seen in the elections held by the ruling ZANU PF, have seen the Party being branded as chaotic when in actual fact is stands for unity, peace and development.
The concern raised by the President and First Secretary of ZANU PF Cde ED Mnangagwa in calling for discipline in members is warranted. There are guiding principles of the Party which must be followed and the servant leadership which he preaches about, is what resulted in many sons and daughters of this country laying down their lives for their country. Many are still lying in ditches and rivers unaccounted for but with the spiritual hope of being laid to rest properly back home.
Reburials have taken place with examples of the Chibondo available for unbelievers to see. The thirst for the comrades to be brought back home is evident and as per promise which they made to each other, their return must occur.
Perhaps the definition of dignity differs but whatever the case is, one’s conscience must be able to stop a person from exhibiting unruly behavior, if not for the next person then for themselves.
About Author
