THERE is no sensible way to read the recent verbal exchange between outgoing United States Ambassador Michael Gonzales and the Zambian government without arriving at two conclusions at once. The first is that the Ambassador acted out of line. The second is that much of what he said will resonate deeply with ordinary Zambians because it touches real frustrations that citizens themselves have been voicing for a long time. That is what makes this episode uncomfortable. It is not a simple contest between truth and falsehood. It is a collision between undiplomatic conduct and painful public reality. As journalists, we love news. In fact, news is usually nothing more than something unusual. Our work becomes easier when powerful people say...
