I am a Zimbabwean who comes to South Africa at least once every two months. I read as many newspapers as possible to follow events back home as well as here.

I am a Zimbabwean who comes to South Africa at least once every two months. I read as many newspapers as possible to follow events back home as well as here.

It is very disheartening to note that many of the articles about my country are very negative and largely based on ignorance of the source of our problems.

I also follow the few debates, jokes and anecdotes on Zimbabwe on radio and TV.

I'm sure the majority of South Africans believe that Zimbabweans cannot walk freely in parts of the country, that there are Zanu-PF militias beating people everywhere, that no one in Zimbabwe likes Robert Mugabe anymore and that everyone wants Morgan Tsvangirai as our Messiah.

For the record, our only problem with Mugabe is his unwillingness, at his advanced age, to pass the baton to someone else - and not necessarily Tsvangirai.

Otherwise, we are very aware that our problems with the West started after the expropriation of fertile farmland from the minority whites.

With things as bad as they are now in Zimbabwe, what we need is a political settlement that enables us to get back on track.

We also need the understanding and support of our neighbours. Balanced reporting would also help.

Emmanuel Fundira, Harare