JOMIC flexes its muscles

Official sources said the garrulous writer of the column, George Charamba, was told by Herald editors that his column would no longer be permitted. This was after the Zimpapers editor-in-chief, Pikirayi Deketeke, was summoned by the JOMIC chairman to explain the re-emergence of the hate-mongering column. Charamba is President Robert Mugabes press secretary.

While Nicholas Goche, who currently holds the rotating chairmanship of JOMIC, was not immediately available for comment, another member of the watchdog, Innocent Chagonda said the swift obliteration of the newspaper column was “a matter on the chairman’s agenda.

Called to order
The Zimbabwean also heard that the Zanu (PF) parliamentary caucus had also called Charamba to order, taking issue with his open contempt for the Prime Minister’s trip to Western capitals. This was despite the trip having been sanctioned by the GNU.
Prior to the columns removal from the Herald in April, readers were treated to the verbose outpouring of a commentator who, when not advertising his literary erudition, appeared intent upon denigrating the MDC leadership. Charamba, spent column inch upon column inch every Saturday, in typical undergraduate essay assignments, heaping scorn upon Morgan Tsvangirai and his colleagues.

But, following the establishment of the inclusive government between Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, the JOMIC yanked the vituperative column from the Herald. This was because it violated Article 19 of the global political agreement,which outlaws hate-speech in the media and commits the Press to report fairly and in a balanced manner.

JOMIC takes no mischief
However, in what was widely seen as retaliation for the launch of the Prime Minister’s newsletter, the Herald reinstated the column two weeks ago, causing an outcry.

The one and only column that appeared rubbished the PM’s three-week tour of Western capitals and branded the premier “the PM of NGOs.”

The JOMIC was quick to act and stated that it would not countenance such mischief.
Last weekend the Saturday Herald replaced the column with another politically-charged column, Eagle Eye. It was attributed to the paper’s political editor, Mabasa Sasa, but contained Charambas distinct footmarks.

The column again took a dig at the West’s decision to channel money through
NGOs.

Observers say the Nathaniel Manheru newspaper column seemed as though it were designed by Charamba to impress a political coterie around the State House incumbent.