The committee turned away dozens of journalists and showed overt favouritism for the public media.
The organisation’s secretariat rejected accrediting them, saying they wanted a limited number.
In one instance, when asked by The Zimbabwean how many journalists they were accepting from each print media house, a lady indicated that they had room for only one.
This, however, turned to be a lie, as this paper later established that COPAC had an allowance for two journalists from each stable.
The lady was reprimanded by her colleagues, after she said they were differentiating between “small tabloid papers” and broadsheets.
The Zimbabwean, New Zimbabwe, Radio VOP, Voice of America and SW Radio correspondents were among the journalists who were initially turned away and they were forced to engage one of the COPAC Co-chairpersons, Douglas Mwonzora, who finally facilitated their accreditation.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists Secretary General, Forster Dongozi condemned the development.
“We do not see the need for COPAC to accredit journalists who are already accredited by ZMC. By denying journalists access to the Second All-Stakeholders Conference, COPAC is denying Zimbabweans access to information. As ZUJ, we strongly condemn that and we are going to engage COPAC regarding that matter,” said Dongozi.
Civil society has not been spared the confusion at Copac either.
“We do not know who will be representing women at the conference because of the confusion in the accreditation process. Our members have not yet been accredited and it’s a few days to go to the conference,” Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association Director, Emilia Muchawa said on Thursday.
COPAC spokesperson, Jessie Majome, however, said women should have organised themselves and approached her organisation.
“I think women are being represented by their umbrella body, Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe. If they are not yet accredited, they can approach the COPAC offices,”she said.
Civic society is currently holding a leadership conference on whether or not to participate at the conference.
Post published in: News