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ZIMBABWE has lost more than US$7,5 million in potential earnings due to reckless and false statements on the Ebola virus. The deadly disease has killed thousands of people in West Africa and, morally, people could do the country a lot of good by desisting from making unnecessary remarks about an epidemic that has caused strife elsewhere, but is still to visit their borders.

The figure of the potential revenue for Zimbabwe only represents the estimated income loss in the tourism industry. But the country could have been deprived of more economic benefits due to unfounded claims on Ebola presence in the country.

A story in this paper highlights the effects of reckless statements emanating from sources that publish without verifying facts.

Organisers of the 2014 Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo which started yesterday, say over 30 international buyers have pulled out due to fears over Ebola.

Hotel bookings worth US$6 million have been cancelled throughout the country since the deadly virus was detected in West African countries in July while tourism operators in Victoria Falls have said that they lost an estimated US$1,5 million in potential revenue due to cancellations of bookings in the resort.

Government has explained that Zimbabwe does not have any proven Ebola cases and has put in place comprehensive measures to counter the diseases.

The process of quarantining suspected victims of the deadly disease is routine and instead shows the country’s readiness to deal with any potential case.

That Zimbabwe has already suffered considerable loss of business due to the negative publicity is worrying.

Such information has the effect of causing alarm and despondency and may incite a stampede by foreigners to leave the country.

More importantly, this has the negative effect of causing Zimbabweans to live in fear and forcing them to abandon their cultural practices, crucial to shaping the social fabric of the country.

Although we welcome buyers from all over the world, we are, however, worried by the withdrawal of some buyers from Europe as they are quick to magnify anything negative about Zimbabwe, including instances where this is not backed by facts.

It is common knowledge that visitors from Europe have had a negative attitude arising from their countries imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe. Their withdrawal should, therefore, not be magnified.

We are concerned with the overall attitude by those who have withdrawn before the country has recorded a single proven Ebola case.

Why have the people connived to make Zimbabwe the sacrificial lamb for a disease that has broken out in West Africa? Why is Zimbabwe being targeted among a host of other southern African countries, some whose economies are worse off than Zimbabwe’s?

This new development is a wake-up call for the Government.

While we are advocating controls on social media, there is need to investigate the effect of citizen journalism on the economy and society at large. Now that every mobile phone owner is a potential news source, it is critically important for Government to increase its information dissemination strategies.

We also call on the Government to consider the safety of our economic sectors such as cross border traders, truck drivers and other sectors that constantly visit domains of other countries.

How our people are treated wherever they go is critical.

The economy is already fragile and a failure to insulate it against such unwarranted shocks could worsen the situation.

It is important for the Government to be creative and proactive in such situations.