Information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu announced a new board headed by Chinondidyachii Mararike after dropping Media and Information Commission (MIC) chairman Tafataona Mahoso and fellow board member, Pascal Mukondiwa, whose impartiality was questioned by Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ), publishers of the banned Daily News and its sister weekly the Daily News on Sunday.
In May this year a High Court judge interdicted the MIC to consider a fresh application for the newspaper. On Thursday, minister Ndlovu named a new board, the second time inside a week, which he said would now impartially preside over the newspaper’s application.
Leading human rights group, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, said the Mararike-led board was no better than the previous board. Mararike writes tedious articles in the public media bundling the media with the opposition, questioning their patriotism with out giving them space to respond to such allegations.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa challenged Ndlovu to make public the criteria he used in appointing Mararike, and other new board members such as Charity Sally Moyo, Edward Dube, Tendai Joseph Chari and Ngugi Wa Mirii. – Chief reporter
Post published in: News