Foundational Vision
To produce and distribute a newspaper
dedicated to freedom of expression and access to information for all
the peoples of Zimbabwe, founded on the sacred principles of
journalismâ€â€fairness and honesty. To play a role in opposing everything
offensive to basic human decency and hostile to peace, in order that
Zimbabwe may return to the path of wisdom and sanity, and become once
again an honourable nation, governed by honourable people with due
respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Guiding Principles
We believe in the basic right of all people to receive and impart information, i.e. to communicate.
We believe in the free flow of diverse, accurate and relevant information through mass media.
We believe in mass media that is accessible and answerable to the people it seeks to serve.
We believe the establishment of vibrant, non-governmental mass media is vital to democracy.
We
believe those in positions of authority and power should be held
accountable to those they are supposed to serve, and that a free media
is fundamental to ensuring such accountability.
The Zimbabwean
It
is believed that more than a million Zimbabweans live in exile in the
UK and more than two million live outside Zimbabwe in Southern
Africaâ€â€mainly in South Africa and Botswana. The Zimbabwean will, for
the first time, give a voice to these Zimbabweans, who constitute some
25% of the total population. It will build links and encourage readers
to tell their own stories and those of their families, as well as
articulating their fears and frustrations about the issues concerning
them.
The paper will seek to harness the energies and synergies
of exiles, many of whom find themselves isolated, marginalised and
voiceless, yet who constitute Zimbabwe’s professional, skilled and
intellectual cream. They are hungry for news about home and effectively
cut off from their families and each other. Many do not have access to
the internet at work or at home and are dependent upon costly internet
cafes and e-mail.
News focus
The paper will
include news from Zimbabwe as well as life in exile. The content will
obviously have a heavy emphasis on Zimbabwean politics, but will also
include arts and culture, business, sports, gender and health, issues,
social issues and news analysis. Letters to the editor will be a key
feature, as will classified advertisements.
Our promise to you:
The
Zimbabwean will be an authoritative and accurate newspaper of record
and a reliable source of information to all those individuals, agencies
and governments with an interest in Zimbabwe. A news blackout is
dangerous for any society. The forthcoming general election scheduled
for March adds urgency. We will ensure that our coverage is accurate,
fair and balanced. We will be accountable to our readers. We will
endeavour to give all viewpoints, and everyone will have the right of
reply. In short, we will do everything the government newspapers in
Zimbabwe are not allowed to do!
What can you do?
Send
us your stories, your news, your letters, your classified
advertisements, your ideas, your photographs and your comments. And
please buy the paper.