Tsvangirai has formally complained to SADC chairman Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s President, that Zanu (PF) continues to flout the Global Political Agreement that gave birth to the unity government. Zimbabwe is high on the agenda at the summit. Television and radio producers at ZBC said they were being forced to interview Zanu (PF) officials selected by the editors. Orders have been given by the editorial team that Tsvangirai should never be given positive coverage. Every time we are ordered to re-write scripts that seem to be objective on the Prime Minister, said a senior radio news producer, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.
Zanu (PF) propagandists like Nathan Shamuyarira are called for staged interviews on radio and television, and we are not given the chance to ask them questions. Everything is prepared for us by the editors. In fact these politicians come to tell the nation on TV and Radio what they want people to hear. We have been reduced to secretaries of Zanu (PF) politicians, and we are no longer journalists. Most of the reporters are frustrated with the system and given a chance will be glad to leave, said a senior journalist. The Prime Ministers spokesperson, James Maridadi, said the move by state media was against the spirit of the inclusive government.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai is the head of government because he formulates, supervises and implements government policies in the inclusive government. What ZBC and the Herald are doing is very dangerous for the future of that government. The PM has been straight forward. He has issued a number of statements complaining about this issue, said Maridadi. ZBC and the Herald are reportedly acting on orders from the Ministry of Information and Publicity, which is under the stewardship of President Mugabes favourites -Webster Shamu, and chief propagandist George Charamba.
Last month the state-controlled media received instructions from the Ministry of Information that they should address President Mugabe as Head of State and Government and Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence forces.
Post published in: News