HARARE - The existence of media hangman and Zanu (PF) sympathiser Tafataona Mahoso Mahoso is still in charge of his defunct Media Information Commission secretariat, tasked with accrediting journalists and new media players at the new ZMC, under the un-changed, notorious AIPPA legislation.
A ZMC commissioner who declined to be named said they had held several meetings with international and local donors who were interested in investing in the media. But the donors said they were reluctant to contribute to ZMC activities because of the presence of Mahoso.
Donors are playing a wait-and-see game. Some of them have clearly indicated their displeasure over the presence of Mahoso. We have told them they should remember that, like the inclusive government, everything came as a result of a compromise and we have promised them that we will deliver.
It is not donors only who are complaining about Mahoso,even the majority of but the journalists have expressed disappointment.
The problem we are having is that we do not have the funds to establish our own secretariat and new infrastructure. We have told the Mahoso staff, which is doing all the accreditation, that they should not deny any journalist accreditation. If they have any doubt we have told them to direct such issues to us, said the official.
He said they were not sure on the duration of Mahoso at the ZMC.
We do not have the time frame of Mahosos continued existence at ZMC. But from the look of things, he will be there for as long as Webster Shamu remains the Minister of Information and Publicity, because he is his right hand man. But this will not compromise our service delivery because we are tightly monitoring every activity, added the official.
Mahoso was responsible for the implementation of hostile media legislation which led to the closure of news outlets that were critical of Zanu (PF) – this led to many journalists losing their jobs.
We are angry and will never forgive Mahoso for the evil role he played while trying to defend the corrupt and incompetent Zanu (PF) regime, said one journalist.
Post published in: Politics