This Week's Zimbabwe Media Headlines

Chombo Sues FinGaz For $300 million, But Is Exposed In Yet Another Scandal
This week was an eventful week in the Zimbabwean Media. A dispute seems to be growing between Local Authorities Minister Ignatius Chombo, who is suing the Financial Gazette for $300 million for publishing stories about him in an alleged ZUPCO corruption scandal. The Fingaz then came up with another story entitled “Not Again Minister” implicating him in a CBZ scandal. Observers say this dispute could mirror bad blood between Chombo and Reserve Bank Governor Gideion Gono. Observer add that Gono is said to be considerably be involved with the Financial Gazette, and owing to the fact that the details are emanating from the Reserve Bank and CBZ, maybe something is going on??? Meanwhile daggers have been drawn, with Jonathan Moyo against Dumiso Dabengwa and John Nkomo, while Emmerson Mnangwagwa is suing the Speaker of Parliament For defamation. Now it will be interesting for journo’s to attend these court hearings as these guys tend to sing like larks during testimonies.

Here’s an Excerpt From This Week’s Fingaz
Police are investigating the use to which Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo put $14 billion worth of farm loans obtained from the central bank.
The focus of interest for the Criminal Investigations Department (Serious Fraud) is Chombo’s application, on October 1, 2005, for a $14 billion (old currency) loan from the RBZ. The loan is said to have been availed under the “Other Crops and Livestock Facility” and was disbursed through CBZ Bank.

Charamba Scuttles Muradzikwa ‘s Plans Of New Appoinments

Lydia Mavengere and Ishmael Kadungure who were to be appointed general managers for TV and Radio services, apparently got the thumbs down from presidential WordSmith George Charamba, reports NewZimbabwe.com
It seems Muradzikwa is having to go back to the drawing board again. Some of those affected are Robson Mhandu and Tazzen Mandizvidza.


Channel 4 News Crew Deported From Zimbabwe

Now talk about real DRAMA, word around town is that business mogul Nicholas van Hoogstraten's, blew the whistle on Channel Four journalists, who he himself had facilitated to bring in into Zimbabwe. Now a lot of theories and versions are flying around town. The official line says the CIO came across a script, in the four-man news crew’s car. Why the CIO were paying them such close attention is not clear. Another version doing the rounds in Harare’s watering holes is that it was Van Hoogstaten himself who locked the television crew in their rooms and alerted the police. The state-run Herald newspaper alleges that the four man crew’s unceremonious exit was facilitated by the British, who facilitated their escape, through an unnamed neighbouring country. The Herald allege the British journa's were compiling stories that would tarnish(further)the country’s image in preparation for a renwal of EU Sanctions.