Journalist Henrietta Ndebele Dies
Reporting by New Zimbabwe.com
(UK)
ZBH TV presenter Henrietta Ndebele has died.
She was 28.
She died early Thursday at Mater Die Hospital in Bulawayo where she was admitted on Monday.
Acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana said she had become an "integral part of public information dissemination".
Ndebele was working as a part time news presenter for Newsnet, a subsidiary of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings. She was anchor for This Morning and Sunday Edition news bulletins.
Family spokesperson Prisca Utete, said Ndebele died at around 3.45am. She had been in and out of hospital since July suffering from asthma attacks, Utete said.
Ndebele recently moved to her mother's house in Bulawayo to recover, but was admitted at Mater Die Hospital on Monday when her condition worsened.
Utete said: “It’s a great loss to the family and her death came as a shock because Henrietta was recovering."
She said Ndebele’s body would lie in state at her Saurcetown home on Friday before burial at Westpark Cemetery Saturday.
Ndebele was born in Bulawayo and went to Mckeutan Primary School before proceeding to John Tallack High School for her secondary education.
She later went to Manama High School in Gwanda District for her Advanced Level before enrolling at the Harare Polytechnic where she attained a diploma in Mass Communication in 2001.
She did her attachment at the Sunday News in Bulawayo.
Ndebele worked for Spot FM and later joined Newsnet on a part time basis, where she became popular for hosting This Morning and Sunday Edition.
She was a public relations officer for the Scientific Industrial Research and Development Centre.
Acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana said last night: "I learnt with a deep sense of shock and grief of the death of Ndebele.
"Henrietta had become an integral part of public information dissemination through the medium of television, that her sad departure will be instantly felt by many Zimbabweans.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Information and Publicity, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the Ndebele family on their very sad loss. Let them derive some comfort from the excellent service Henrietta gave to her country in the information field.”
Mathew Takaona, President of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists said: “Colleagues will remember Henrietta for her rare talent and intelligence which saw her clinching the best student award in journalism class in 2001 and her meteoric rise in the world of showbiz."
Takaona said Ndebele was one of the most sought after hosts in corporate functions and she was the hostess at the National Journalistic and Media Awards.
Phathisani Moyo, who worked with Ndebele at the Sunday News spoke of her "refreshing personality".He said: “We have lost a colleague and a friend. It’s really a sad loss because she had become synonymous with This Morning. She was a refreshing personality on television."
Friday, September 29, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Save Zimbabwe Campaign Press Statement
Presented at Harare Monomutapa Hotel on 27/09/2006
We have called this press conference to introduce to you and the public, the Save Zimbabwe Campaign. It is our hope and prayer that this introduction will clear the air as to who we are, what we are about and where we hope to go.
We feel this is now necessary because there seem to be all kinds of misconceptions about us out there. Some of them are out of ignorance but some of them are out of demonic mischief.
The Save Zimbabwe Campaign is the direct outcome of the Save Zimbabwe Convention held at the Rainbow Towers Gardens on the 29th of July 2006. It grew out of the deliberations of 500 patriotic Zimbabweans from all corners of the country, representing 34 civic society organizations, all the opposition political parties and churches. This convention was convened and chaired by the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (CA). All political parties were invited but ZANU PF did not attend.
The Christian Alliance is an organized network of Zimbabwe Christian leaders and organization who felt called by God to be instrumental in resolving the crisis in the country peacefully and permanently so that Zimbabweans can once again live in peace and prosperity as God intended them to.
Christian Alliance is a non-partisan and non-sectarian organization. It has no intention to contest or delegate power but is only a facilitator and coordinator of the democratic forces advocating for a better life for Zimbabweans. It gets its mandate from scriptures such as ''Psalm 82: 1-4 '', ‘God presides in the great assembly. He gives judgment among the gods. How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the cause of weak and fatherless, maintain the rights of the weak and oppressed, Rescue the weak and needy, and Deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
The Christian Alliance convened the Convention because it was convinced that the social, economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe is an internal problem that can only be solved by Zimbabweans themselves through dialogue.
At the end of the convention delegates resolved to create a united platform for democratic forces to engage in a peaceful fight for democracy in Zimbabwe. To reinforce this unity the convention resolved to bring together civil society, churches, political parties and other democratic forces under a broad alliance which would act together and speak with one voice in a campaign to advocate for transformation in Zimbabwe as a matter of urgency. The convention asked the Christian Alliance to organize and co-ordinate the activities of this Broad Alliance.
This has now been done and the outcome is what is now called the Save Zimbabwe Campaign. It is spearheaded by a Taskforce chosen by the convention participants and chaired by the Christian Alliance. It is neither a new political party nor a creation of Western imperialists as some suggest. These are just scape goats to dodge the problems they have caused. It is a mass movement of Zimbabweans who are saying, “Enough is enough”.
The campaign leadership therefore makes the following statements in regard to recent events. We totally condemn the statements made by President Robert Mugabe in the media in which he condones and celebrates the arrest, assaults and torture of workers who intended to march peacefully to express serious concerns on the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe. The Save Zimbabwe Campaign regrets that the use of torture, banned and frowned upon by both local and international law, is condoned by the head of state, supposedly the custodian of Zimbabwe. His statements put in serious doubt his posturing at the National Day of prayer this year where he called for peace and dialogue and indeed dampens any efforts towards a negotiated settlement of Zimbabwean crisis. A leadership that condones the assault, torture and harassment of unarmed men and women, peacefully expressing bread and butter issues, does not deserve any respect and in fact has turned itself into an enemy of the people. Further to this we question the sincerity of moves by the government to set up a human rights commission in an environment where torture is celebrated by the head of state as a means of dealing with genuine social concerns.
We condemn the growing culture of impunity by the police force and other security agents in dealing with peaceful expressions of discontent with the manner in which Zimbabwe is being governed. We reiterate that the Zimbabwe constitution, even in its present flawed state, protects freedom of expression and association. We further condemn the use of repressive laws such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) to ban and restrict free expression. Workers’ rights in a democratic society are respected as human rights and the increasing violent approach by security agents to deal with peaceful expressions of discontent with the prevailing economic situation is not only deplorable but shows insensitivity to people’s concerns.
The Save Zimbabwe Campaign demands that the government investigates and prosecutes all those involved in the torture of ZCTU and NCA members. We also demand that the government desists now and in the future from any further action that violates citizen’s rights to freedom of expression in its various forms. We urge the government to take cognizant of the enormity of the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe. We reiterate that no amount of violence against innocent civilians can resolve Zimbabwe economic and political problems and the exercise of power through violence is in fact a clear sign of failure and fear.
Presented at Harare Monomutapa Hotel on 27/09/2006
We have called this press conference to introduce to you and the public, the Save Zimbabwe Campaign. It is our hope and prayer that this introduction will clear the air as to who we are, what we are about and where we hope to go.
We feel this is now necessary because there seem to be all kinds of misconceptions about us out there. Some of them are out of ignorance but some of them are out of demonic mischief.
The Save Zimbabwe Campaign is the direct outcome of the Save Zimbabwe Convention held at the Rainbow Towers Gardens on the 29th of July 2006. It grew out of the deliberations of 500 patriotic Zimbabweans from all corners of the country, representing 34 civic society organizations, all the opposition political parties and churches. This convention was convened and chaired by the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (CA). All political parties were invited but ZANU PF did not attend.
The Christian Alliance is an organized network of Zimbabwe Christian leaders and organization who felt called by God to be instrumental in resolving the crisis in the country peacefully and permanently so that Zimbabweans can once again live in peace and prosperity as God intended them to.
Christian Alliance is a non-partisan and non-sectarian organization. It has no intention to contest or delegate power but is only a facilitator and coordinator of the democratic forces advocating for a better life for Zimbabweans. It gets its mandate from scriptures such as ''Psalm 82: 1-4 '', ‘God presides in the great assembly. He gives judgment among the gods. How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the cause of weak and fatherless, maintain the rights of the weak and oppressed, Rescue the weak and needy, and Deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
The Christian Alliance convened the Convention because it was convinced that the social, economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe is an internal problem that can only be solved by Zimbabweans themselves through dialogue.
At the end of the convention delegates resolved to create a united platform for democratic forces to engage in a peaceful fight for democracy in Zimbabwe. To reinforce this unity the convention resolved to bring together civil society, churches, political parties and other democratic forces under a broad alliance which would act together and speak with one voice in a campaign to advocate for transformation in Zimbabwe as a matter of urgency. The convention asked the Christian Alliance to organize and co-ordinate the activities of this Broad Alliance.
This has now been done and the outcome is what is now called the Save Zimbabwe Campaign. It is spearheaded by a Taskforce chosen by the convention participants and chaired by the Christian Alliance. It is neither a new political party nor a creation of Western imperialists as some suggest. These are just scape goats to dodge the problems they have caused. It is a mass movement of Zimbabweans who are saying, “Enough is enough”.
The campaign leadership therefore makes the following statements in regard to recent events. We totally condemn the statements made by President Robert Mugabe in the media in which he condones and celebrates the arrest, assaults and torture of workers who intended to march peacefully to express serious concerns on the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe. The Save Zimbabwe Campaign regrets that the use of torture, banned and frowned upon by both local and international law, is condoned by the head of state, supposedly the custodian of Zimbabwe. His statements put in serious doubt his posturing at the National Day of prayer this year where he called for peace and dialogue and indeed dampens any efforts towards a negotiated settlement of Zimbabwean crisis. A leadership that condones the assault, torture and harassment of unarmed men and women, peacefully expressing bread and butter issues, does not deserve any respect and in fact has turned itself into an enemy of the people. Further to this we question the sincerity of moves by the government to set up a human rights commission in an environment where torture is celebrated by the head of state as a means of dealing with genuine social concerns.
We condemn the growing culture of impunity by the police force and other security agents in dealing with peaceful expressions of discontent with the manner in which Zimbabwe is being governed. We reiterate that the Zimbabwe constitution, even in its present flawed state, protects freedom of expression and association. We further condemn the use of repressive laws such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) to ban and restrict free expression. Workers’ rights in a democratic society are respected as human rights and the increasing violent approach by security agents to deal with peaceful expressions of discontent with the prevailing economic situation is not only deplorable but shows insensitivity to people’s concerns.
The Save Zimbabwe Campaign demands that the government investigates and prosecutes all those involved in the torture of ZCTU and NCA members. We also demand that the government desists now and in the future from any further action that violates citizen’s rights to freedom of expression in its various forms. We urge the government to take cognizant of the enormity of the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe. We reiterate that no amount of violence against innocent civilians can resolve Zimbabwe economic and political problems and the exercise of power through violence is in fact a clear sign of failure and fear.
Zambian Television Accused of Being Biased Towards Ruling MMD
Report by MISA-Zambia
Hundreds of thousands of went to polling stations on 28 September 2006 morning to vote their national leader, law-makers and local government officials, kicking off the tripartite elections.
The elections, the fourth since the country resumed multiparty democracy in early 1990s, will see incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa, who will seek a second term, challenged by four opposition leaders.
MISA-Zambia has expressed disappointment at the unfair coverage of political parties taking part in this year’s tripartite election by Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) during their main news.
Speaking at a press briefing, MISA Zambia board Chairperson Fr Frank Bwalya said this situation was saddening because the Electoral Code of Conduct clearly calls for equitable coverage of all contesting parties.
Fr Bwalya said according to the research finding conducted by MISA Zambia for the past two months which involved monitoring ZNBC news for 19:00 hrs and 13:15 hrs on both Television and Radio, the public broadcasters gave over 70 percent coverage to the ruling MMD.
Evidence from the last three weeks shows the ruling MMD, particularly President Levy Mwanawasa, enjoyed longer coverage and more headline treatment compared to other political parties and their leaders.
Results show the Government had a whooping 75 percent of the ZNBC radio news hole, compared to 6.3 percent for the Patriotic Front (PF), 10.4 percent for United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and 4.2 percent each for Heritage party (HP) and All People?s (APC).? Fr Bwalya said.
He said ZNBC television main news also showed a similar trend where 57.9 percent of news items were related to Government and the MMD, 15.7 per cent went to PF and 14.3 percent to the UDA, 2.9 per cent went to HP while 5.7 percent coverage was given to APC.
He however said ZNBC remained ethical in the majority of stories they carried. He said MISA Zambia recognises the efforts made in conjunction with other partners to provide discussion programmes featuring all contesting parties.
Fr Bwalya said the biased reporting on ZNBC news was retrogressive because it hindered electorates from accessing vital information concerning persons and parties taking part in this year?s elections which hindered free and fair elections.
He called on Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to stop the trend by ZNBC immediately and also urged ZNBC to follow what the Electoral Code of Conduct for 2006 stipulates.
ZNBC is the only electronic media that has the widest coverage in Zambia and braodcasts in local language as well as English and has three radio channels aired in Zambia and one Television channel.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Report by MISA-Zambia
Hundreds of thousands of went to polling stations on 28 September 2006 morning to vote their national leader, law-makers and local government officials, kicking off the tripartite elections.
The elections, the fourth since the country resumed multiparty democracy in early 1990s, will see incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa, who will seek a second term, challenged by four opposition leaders.
MISA-Zambia has expressed disappointment at the unfair coverage of political parties taking part in this year’s tripartite election by Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) during their main news.
Speaking at a press briefing, MISA Zambia board Chairperson Fr Frank Bwalya said this situation was saddening because the Electoral Code of Conduct clearly calls for equitable coverage of all contesting parties.
Fr Bwalya said according to the research finding conducted by MISA Zambia for the past two months which involved monitoring ZNBC news for 19:00 hrs and 13:15 hrs on both Television and Radio, the public broadcasters gave over 70 percent coverage to the ruling MMD.
Evidence from the last three weeks shows the ruling MMD, particularly President Levy Mwanawasa, enjoyed longer coverage and more headline treatment compared to other political parties and their leaders.
Results show the Government had a whooping 75 percent of the ZNBC radio news hole, compared to 6.3 percent for the Patriotic Front (PF), 10.4 percent for United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and 4.2 percent each for Heritage party (HP) and All People?s (APC).? Fr Bwalya said.
He said ZNBC television main news also showed a similar trend where 57.9 percent of news items were related to Government and the MMD, 15.7 per cent went to PF and 14.3 percent to the UDA, 2.9 per cent went to HP while 5.7 percent coverage was given to APC.
He however said ZNBC remained ethical in the majority of stories they carried. He said MISA Zambia recognises the efforts made in conjunction with other partners to provide discussion programmes featuring all contesting parties.
Fr Bwalya said the biased reporting on ZNBC news was retrogressive because it hindered electorates from accessing vital information concerning persons and parties taking part in this year?s elections which hindered free and fair elections.
He called on Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to stop the trend by ZNBC immediately and also urged ZNBC to follow what the Electoral Code of Conduct for 2006 stipulates.
ZNBC is the only electronic media that has the widest coverage in Zambia and braodcasts in local language as well as English and has three radio channels aired in Zambia and one Television channel.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
MISA-ZIMBABWE Community Radio Project
For all you journos’ who could be interested in setting up a community radio stations:
Report by MISA-Zimbabwe
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Zimbabwe Chapter) has been engaging communities on the concept of community radio and how it is a critical component of community development as well as participatory democracy.
The communities that have been engaged so far are urban based and are in the cities of Mutare, Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo. They have already shown a keen interest in trying to set up community radio stations but unfortunately they do not possess the resources let alone the skills for such an endeavour. They are however conscious of the governments attempts to bring about community radios through the “back door” without community participation or community ownership. MISA-Zimbabwe has also been familiarising these communities with the contents of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) that allows for the formation of community radio stations but in a government controlled format.
There is still a lot of work to be done with these communities around community radio. This work includes the dire need for training on community radio, the need for community meetings, and production of awareness raising campaign materials as well as the engagement of the local Members of Parliament as well as local authority.It is imperative that a public campaign in each community be launched with the intention of making people aware of the project.
Definition of Community Radio Community r
Is radio that is available to a specific community. It is normally broadcast using the Frequency Modulation (FM) band at a limited radius. It is non-profit radio that focuses mainly on developmental issues that affect the community. It is radio that is run by a community and serves the interest of the community.
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY?
A geographically based group of different individuals. e.g. Residents of Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo.· A social interest group. e.g. students, churches, women’s groups, labour.
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE THERE COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS?·
Radio Muthiyana: A community radio run by women in Maputo in a high-density suburb. Began broadcasting on 24 January 2001. It was initiated by the Media Women’s Association of Mozambique. Funding was acquired form local and international donors.·
Radio Kayira-Bamako, Mali: this is a community radio station set up in Bamako, Mali for the residents of the capital city.· Channel Med Radio, South Africa: community radio for medical students in Medunsa.
HOW DO YOU SET UP A COMMUNITY RADIO STATION?
1. Develop a mission statement. · What is your target community?· What are the needs of this target community? i.e. health, education, local government issues?
2. Develop policy.· What programmes does the station intend to cover? Music, drama, talk shows?· What type of advertising will it allow?
3. Develop organisational structure.· Constitution. Annual general meeting, membership, board of trustees, governing council, secretariat.· Ensure the continued participation of individual members of the community through setting up of a volunteers forum to assist in the
programming.
4. Consultation with the community.· Community leaders have to consult the members of the intended community on what the community radio should cover.
5. Look for equipment.· Equipment does not have to be the first thing that must be acquired. The community has to identify knowledgeable individuals to carry assist in acquiring equipment. In some cases the equipment need not be sophisticated.
6. Seek Funders and partners· Sell your charter and constitution to the local and international donor community.
ZIMBABWE AND COMMUNITY RADIO.
Zimbabwe permits community radio stations under the Broadcasting Services Act. The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe is yet to issue an announcement for community radio license applications.
LIKELY ACTIONS ON COMMUNITY RADIO IN ZIMBABWE.
PROVING YOU ARE A COMMUNITY.
There shall be an onus on those that seek to acquire community radio licenses to prove they are indeed a community. This will involve some of the general issues highlighted above. But there may be more additions that will come when the Broadcasting Authority issues its regulations.
CONSULTATIONS.
Linked to the above point will be the need to ensure that there is adequate consultation and participation of the specific community in the setting up of a community radio charter and constitution. This will probably need to be done regardless of whether the announcement for broadcasting licenses has been issued or not.
MEETING THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY OF ZIMBABWE.
There shall be some outreach programme at some point from the BAZ. It is here that aspiring community broadcasters will be told any regulations and procedures for them to broadcast.
MISA-ZIMBABWE’S ROLE.
Facilitate public consultations. Facilitate training programmes. Offer media support. Assist in legal matters. Assist in lobbying Parliament, government and local authorities.
For all you journos’ who could be interested in setting up a community radio stations:
Report by MISA-Zimbabwe
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Zimbabwe Chapter) has been engaging communities on the concept of community radio and how it is a critical component of community development as well as participatory democracy.
The communities that have been engaged so far are urban based and are in the cities of Mutare, Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo. They have already shown a keen interest in trying to set up community radio stations but unfortunately they do not possess the resources let alone the skills for such an endeavour. They are however conscious of the governments attempts to bring about community radios through the “back door” without community participation or community ownership. MISA-Zimbabwe has also been familiarising these communities with the contents of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) that allows for the formation of community radio stations but in a government controlled format.
There is still a lot of work to be done with these communities around community radio. This work includes the dire need for training on community radio, the need for community meetings, and production of awareness raising campaign materials as well as the engagement of the local Members of Parliament as well as local authority.It is imperative that a public campaign in each community be launched with the intention of making people aware of the project.
Definition of Community Radio Community r
Is radio that is available to a specific community. It is normally broadcast using the Frequency Modulation (FM) band at a limited radius. It is non-profit radio that focuses mainly on developmental issues that affect the community. It is radio that is run by a community and serves the interest of the community.
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY?
A geographically based group of different individuals. e.g. Residents of Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo.· A social interest group. e.g. students, churches, women’s groups, labour.
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE THERE COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS?·
Radio Muthiyana: A community radio run by women in Maputo in a high-density suburb. Began broadcasting on 24 January 2001. It was initiated by the Media Women’s Association of Mozambique. Funding was acquired form local and international donors.·
Radio Kayira-Bamako, Mali: this is a community radio station set up in Bamako, Mali for the residents of the capital city.· Channel Med Radio, South Africa: community radio for medical students in Medunsa.
HOW DO YOU SET UP A COMMUNITY RADIO STATION?
1. Develop a mission statement. · What is your target community?· What are the needs of this target community? i.e. health, education, local government issues?
2. Develop policy.· What programmes does the station intend to cover? Music, drama, talk shows?· What type of advertising will it allow?
3. Develop organisational structure.· Constitution. Annual general meeting, membership, board of trustees, governing council, secretariat.· Ensure the continued participation of individual members of the community through setting up of a volunteers forum to assist in the
programming.
4. Consultation with the community.· Community leaders have to consult the members of the intended community on what the community radio should cover.
5. Look for equipment.· Equipment does not have to be the first thing that must be acquired. The community has to identify knowledgeable individuals to carry assist in acquiring equipment. In some cases the equipment need not be sophisticated.
6. Seek Funders and partners· Sell your charter and constitution to the local and international donor community.
ZIMBABWE AND COMMUNITY RADIO.
Zimbabwe permits community radio stations under the Broadcasting Services Act. The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe is yet to issue an announcement for community radio license applications.
LIKELY ACTIONS ON COMMUNITY RADIO IN ZIMBABWE.
PROVING YOU ARE A COMMUNITY.
There shall be an onus on those that seek to acquire community radio licenses to prove they are indeed a community. This will involve some of the general issues highlighted above. But there may be more additions that will come when the Broadcasting Authority issues its regulations.
CONSULTATIONS.
Linked to the above point will be the need to ensure that there is adequate consultation and participation of the specific community in the setting up of a community radio charter and constitution. This will probably need to be done regardless of whether the announcement for broadcasting licenses has been issued or not.
MEETING THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY OF ZIMBABWE.
There shall be some outreach programme at some point from the BAZ. It is here that aspiring community broadcasters will be told any regulations and procedures for them to broadcast.
MISA-ZIMBABWE’S ROLE.
Facilitate public consultations. Facilitate training programmes. Offer media support. Assist in legal matters. Assist in lobbying Parliament, government and local authorities.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
CCJP Welcomes Dismissal Charges Against VOP Trustees
Arnold Tsunga thrilled but warns of possible charges against organisation Report by CCJP
New York
The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the decision of a court in Zimbabwe today to dismiss charges of broadcasting without a license against 10 employees of independent news production company Voice of the People (VOP). A court in Harare threw the case out, calling it a “circus,” after the prosecution asked for a fourth postponement, according to defense lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa and one of the defendants.
“We are quite thrilled,” Arnold Tsunga, a VOP trustee who is also director of the Zimbabwean Lawyers for Human Rights, told CPJ. But he said there was a risk that the state might now try to press charges against VOP as a legal entity, rather than against the individuals. The prosecutor had asked for another postponement in order to pursue this possibility, Mtetwa confirmed. “This is not a prosecution, this is a persecution,” said Mtetwa, who received an International Press Freedom Award from CPJ in 2005.
Several of the defendants were initially detained and released on bail.
Tsunga said VOP was trying to resume operations but had been virtually incapacitated in Zimbabwe since security forces raid its premises in December and confiscated equipment.
“While we welcome the court ruling, we deplore the government’s censorship of VOP and the persecution of its trustees and staff,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon . “We call on the authorities to return VOP’s equipment immediately and allow it to resume its independent news production without fear of reprisal.”
VOP produces radio programs in local languages on community and political issues but does not broadcast directly within Zimbabwe . The programs are broadcast on shortwave from overseas.
Those charged along with Tsunga were fellow trustees David Masunda, who is VOP’s chairman, Isabella Matambanadzo, Millicent Phiri, Lawrence Chibwea and Nhlanhla Ngwenya; VOP Director John Masuku; and three VOP staffers.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Arnold Tsunga thrilled but warns of possible charges against organisation Report by CCJP
New York
The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the decision of a court in Zimbabwe today to dismiss charges of broadcasting without a license against 10 employees of independent news production company Voice of the People (VOP). A court in Harare threw the case out, calling it a “circus,” after the prosecution asked for a fourth postponement, according to defense lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa and one of the defendants.
“We are quite thrilled,” Arnold Tsunga, a VOP trustee who is also director of the Zimbabwean Lawyers for Human Rights, told CPJ. But he said there was a risk that the state might now try to press charges against VOP as a legal entity, rather than against the individuals. The prosecutor had asked for another postponement in order to pursue this possibility, Mtetwa confirmed. “This is not a prosecution, this is a persecution,” said Mtetwa, who received an International Press Freedom Award from CPJ in 2005.
Several of the defendants were initially detained and released on bail.
Tsunga said VOP was trying to resume operations but had been virtually incapacitated in Zimbabwe since security forces raid its premises in December and confiscated equipment.
“While we welcome the court ruling, we deplore the government’s censorship of VOP and the persecution of its trustees and staff,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon . “We call on the authorities to return VOP’s equipment immediately and allow it to resume its independent news production without fear of reprisal.”
VOP produces radio programs in local languages on community and political issues but does not broadcast directly within Zimbabwe . The programs are broadcast on shortwave from overseas.
Those charged along with Tsunga were fellow trustees David Masunda, who is VOP’s chairman, Isabella Matambanadzo, Millicent Phiri, Lawrence Chibwea and Nhlanhla Ngwenya; VOP Director John Masuku; and three VOP staffers.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Sam Nujoma To Sue Newspaper
Report by MISA-Namibia
Windhoek
On 26 September 2006, "The Namibian" newspaper reported that former head of state and president of the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), Sam Nujoma, is suing the daily for N$5 million (approx. US$650,000) because, he alleges, the newspaper implied he is corrupt.
Lawyers for Nujoma claim that, by reporting on evidence given during a public inquiry on the Avid-Social Security Commission (SSC) case in 2005, the newspaper implied that Nujoma abused his position as the president of Namibia to advance his personal financial benefit in Avid, is a corrupt leader, wanted to conceal his corrupt dealings in Avid and state entities such as the SSC, and was a person of low moral scruples.
The claim relates to a report published on 10 August 2005, headlined "Nujoma named in Avid Scandal" and written by senior reporter Werner Menges. Menges is named as the second defendant in the lawsuit.
MISA condemned Nujoma's actions as a considered attempt to muzzle the media and to suppress public opinion.
MISA added that "The Namibian" newspaper was merely reporting on information already in the public domain, information that was made available in a public hearing and which is contained in a sworn affidavit that was filed with the court.
The media freedom advocacy organisation further appealed to the former head of state to retract the lawsuit in a showing of statesmanship and in honour of many statements he made in the past aimed at advancing media freedom and freedom of expression in Namibia.
Menges quoted from an affidavit submitted to a Companies Act hearing in the High Court by Avril Green, former manager at the SSC.
The Companies Act Inquiry, held in August 2005 under the chairmanship of Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote, probed the aborted N$30 million (approx. US$3.9 million) investment the SSC made with Avid Investment Corporation.
The case turned into a sensational unveiling of corrupt deals which made headlines for weeks, capturing the public imagination because of the array of prominent players in the drama that subsequently unfolded in the hearing. The exposé toppled a number of big names in Namibia.
The SSC was established to administer the funds for the provision of social security benefits to Namibian workers and their dependents.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Report by MISA-Namibia
Windhoek
On 26 September 2006, "The Namibian" newspaper reported that former head of state and president of the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), Sam Nujoma, is suing the daily for N$5 million (approx. US$650,000) because, he alleges, the newspaper implied he is corrupt.
Lawyers for Nujoma claim that, by reporting on evidence given during a public inquiry on the Avid-Social Security Commission (SSC) case in 2005, the newspaper implied that Nujoma abused his position as the president of Namibia to advance his personal financial benefit in Avid, is a corrupt leader, wanted to conceal his corrupt dealings in Avid and state entities such as the SSC, and was a person of low moral scruples.
The claim relates to a report published on 10 August 2005, headlined "Nujoma named in Avid Scandal" and written by senior reporter Werner Menges. Menges is named as the second defendant in the lawsuit.
MISA condemned Nujoma's actions as a considered attempt to muzzle the media and to suppress public opinion.
MISA added that "The Namibian" newspaper was merely reporting on information already in the public domain, information that was made available in a public hearing and which is contained in a sworn affidavit that was filed with the court.
The media freedom advocacy organisation further appealed to the former head of state to retract the lawsuit in a showing of statesmanship and in honour of many statements he made in the past aimed at advancing media freedom and freedom of expression in Namibia.
Menges quoted from an affidavit submitted to a Companies Act hearing in the High Court by Avril Green, former manager at the SSC.
The Companies Act Inquiry, held in August 2005 under the chairmanship of Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote, probed the aborted N$30 million (approx. US$3.9 million) investment the SSC made with Avid Investment Corporation.
The case turned into a sensational unveiling of corrupt deals which made headlines for weeks, capturing the public imagination because of the array of prominent players in the drama that subsequently unfolded in the hearing. The exposé toppled a number of big names in Namibia.
The SSC was established to administer the funds for the provision of social security benefits to Namibian workers and their dependents.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Monday, September 25, 2006
Free At Last, Free At Last!!!!
VOP Directors Charges Dropped
Good job Beatrice
Reporting by MISA-Zimbabwe
(Harare)
A Harare magistrate on 25 September 2006 refused to place on further remand the directors of Voice of the People radio station accused of broadcasting without a licence.
Judiciary Circus???
Magistrate Bhila said the State’s bid to have the commencement of the trial postponed a third time was “becoming a circus”. The State had argued for a postponement of the matter for trial on 7 – 9 November 2006 because it still wanted to verify VOP’s registration with the Registrar of Companies at the Deeds Office.The verification would enable the State to proceed against the VOP as a company as opposed to charging the individuals and would only then be in a position to accordingly withdraw the charges when next they appeared in court.
Lawyers Arguements
VOP directors David Masunda, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Lawrence Chibwe, Millie Phiri, Arnold Tsunga, Isabella Matambanadzo and director John Masuku, were being accused of contravening section 7(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act Chapter 12:06 as read with Section 6 (a) (b) which prohibits broadcasting without a licence.Maria Nyanyiwa, Nyasha Bosha and Kundai Mugwanda, journalists with the VOP were also facing similar charges. The accused were all on bail.The magistrate, however, ruled in favour of the defence after their lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa argued that a further postponement was out of the question because the State had indicated as early as 24 January 2006 that it was ready to go to trial only for the matter to be postponed twice with the last postponement being on 15 June 2006.
Mtetwa said she had been in constant communication with the State giving it ample time to verify any grey areas. Mtetwa submitted that verification of the VOP’s registration would not even take an hour. “I have also availed the State with the stamped registration documents but the State says it is still investigating. The State can so investigate but there is no need for them (accused) to be on remand. Why should the courts prolong their agony,” argued Mtetwa.“I totally agreed with the legal counsel. It is now becoming a circus. Remand is refused,” said the magistrate adding that the State could proceed by way of summons.On 15 June 2006 the State applied for a postponement because its key witness, a Mr Muganyura who is employed by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) was in Switzerland .Mtetwa argued then that the trial should proceed as scheduled because the prosecution could call other witnesses. She said the trial magistrate should note that the State had initially indicated that it would be ready to go to trial in January 2006 and had shifted that position to March 2006.
Witnesses in No-Show
It, however, turned out that the State could not proceed with the trial then because none of its other witnesses had been subpoenaed to appear in court at the start of the trial.
Background
Nyanyiwa, Bosha, and Mugwanda were arrested on 15 December 2005 after the police raided the VOP offices in Harare confiscating computers, equipment and administration files.The trio were subsequently released without charges after spending four nights in police custody, but were later subpoenaed to appear in court on 15 June 2006 when the trial was expected to proceed.The State was alleging that the accused established an office at Beverly Court in Harare which they equipped with computers and produced programmes. The news programmes were allegedly then dispatched to a transmitter in the Netherlands from where they were relayed to Madagascar . The state alleges that the station in Madagascar then beamed the programmes into Zimbabwe via short wave.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Accept Any Responsibility For The Content in This Release,
VOP Directors Charges Dropped
Good job Beatrice
Reporting by MISA-Zimbabwe
(Harare)
A Harare magistrate on 25 September 2006 refused to place on further remand the directors of Voice of the People radio station accused of broadcasting without a licence.
Judiciary Circus???
Magistrate Bhila said the State’s bid to have the commencement of the trial postponed a third time was “becoming a circus”. The State had argued for a postponement of the matter for trial on 7 – 9 November 2006 because it still wanted to verify VOP’s registration with the Registrar of Companies at the Deeds Office.The verification would enable the State to proceed against the VOP as a company as opposed to charging the individuals and would only then be in a position to accordingly withdraw the charges when next they appeared in court.
Lawyers Arguements
VOP directors David Masunda, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Lawrence Chibwe, Millie Phiri, Arnold Tsunga, Isabella Matambanadzo and director John Masuku, were being accused of contravening section 7(1) of the Broadcasting Services Act Chapter 12:06 as read with Section 6 (a) (b) which prohibits broadcasting without a licence.Maria Nyanyiwa, Nyasha Bosha and Kundai Mugwanda, journalists with the VOP were also facing similar charges. The accused were all on bail.The magistrate, however, ruled in favour of the defence after their lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa argued that a further postponement was out of the question because the State had indicated as early as 24 January 2006 that it was ready to go to trial only for the matter to be postponed twice with the last postponement being on 15 June 2006.
Mtetwa said she had been in constant communication with the State giving it ample time to verify any grey areas. Mtetwa submitted that verification of the VOP’s registration would not even take an hour. “I have also availed the State with the stamped registration documents but the State says it is still investigating. The State can so investigate but there is no need for them (accused) to be on remand. Why should the courts prolong their agony,” argued Mtetwa.“I totally agreed with the legal counsel. It is now becoming a circus. Remand is refused,” said the magistrate adding that the State could proceed by way of summons.On 15 June 2006 the State applied for a postponement because its key witness, a Mr Muganyura who is employed by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) was in Switzerland .Mtetwa argued then that the trial should proceed as scheduled because the prosecution could call other witnesses. She said the trial magistrate should note that the State had initially indicated that it would be ready to go to trial in January 2006 and had shifted that position to March 2006.
Witnesses in No-Show
It, however, turned out that the State could not proceed with the trial then because none of its other witnesses had been subpoenaed to appear in court at the start of the trial.
Background
Nyanyiwa, Bosha, and Mugwanda were arrested on 15 December 2005 after the police raided the VOP offices in Harare confiscating computers, equipment and administration files.The trio were subsequently released without charges after spending four nights in police custody, but were later subpoenaed to appear in court on 15 June 2006 when the trial was expected to proceed.The State was alleging that the accused established an office at Beverly Court in Harare which they equipped with computers and produced programmes. The news programmes were allegedly then dispatched to a transmitter in the Netherlands from where they were relayed to Madagascar . The state alleges that the station in Madagascar then beamed the programmes into Zimbabwe via short wave.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Accept Any Responsibility For The Content in This Release,
Media Monitoring Report
(11/09-17/09
New Govt Radio Station On the Cards, Studio 24/7
THIS week Acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana reinforced the authorities' paranoid perception of the media, particularly the private ones. The Herald (11/9) passively quoted him replaying his predecessors' defence of the country's tyrannical media laws and accusing "some journalists" of "working" under "the cover of darkness" with "the country's enemies" by "continuously attacking the establishment" in "an effort to effect regime change". This, he claimed - without providing a shred of evidence - was part of the "scheme of things" Britain and America were employing to "destabilise the country" and bring about a change of government.
No attempt was made to challenge these tired claims, which government has used to justify its dictatorial tendencies. Instead, the paper allowed him to defend the obnoxious Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act on the flimsy grounds that it was meant to regulate the media after the "industry could not organise itself for self-regulation", a situation he claimed would have "inspired rewarding recklessness".
Broadcasting Services Act To Stay
The next day the minister dampened any hopes that government would heed calls for the democratisation of the broadcasting sector. The Herald reported him announcing that the authorities would not repeal sections of the repressive Broadcasting Services Act barring foreign ownership of private broadcasters; one of the main constraints independent observers have noted hindered the establishment of the private stations. More worrying however, is that while the minister ruled out any "policy shift on broadcasting", he announced (11&12/9) that government would "before the end of the year" set up another radio station under ZBH to be called Studio 24/7.He claimed the station, which would broadcast on "shortwave", was "meant to counter propaganda by hostile media organisations.by telling the true Zimbabwean story". The paper allowed such announcements to pass without unravelling the underlying intentions of the move. For instance, it avoided discussing the authorities' attempts to cause confusion among the public by giving the station a name similar to that of the Voice of America's Studio 7.
Neither did it ask why government wanted to establish another radio station when it already controls all the four that are available in the country. The paper avoided interpreting the development as part of government plans to further swamp Zimbabweans with official propaganda, and all the more so considering it has taken to jamming the Short Wave and Medium Wave frequencies of private stations whose news broadcasts have become popular sources of alternative information. 2. Freedoms curtailed.
ZCTU Media Coverage
THE government media's failure to expose the continued erosion of the citizens' basic rights was illustrated by their coverage of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) protest against economic hardships, and human right abuses.These media either censored the issues or merely amplified the authorities' threats against the labour body without viewing them as a reflection of government's intolerance of dissent. This was evident in the 21 stories they carried on the attempted ZCTU protest. Of these, 18 featured in the official Press while ZBH aired only three. For example, in total disregard of basic journalistic practice, these media merely magnified official propaganda discrediting the call for mass action by weaving conspiracy theories around the protest. It was in this context that they passively portrayed it as 'illegal' without demonstrating how.ZBH exemplified this professional docility.Despite having initially censored reports on the ZCTU's calls for protests, Spot FM (12/9, 1pm) quoted police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka threatening that the police would "deal" with the ZCTU as their demonstration was "illegal".Said Mandipaka: "If any people think they can gang up and demonstrate in contravention of the provisions of (POSA) definitely the long arm of the law will deal with them and the police are prepared to deal with any malcontents." The station allowed these threats to pass as normal. Similarly, The Herald (12/9) unquestioningly reported Labour Minister Nicholas Goche dismissing the planned action as "mind-boggling", saying the labour body had a "hidden agenda, which they intend to achieve using the issue of the (Poverty Datum Line) as a smokescreen to hide their true intentions".Without challenging him to substantiate these claims, the paper (13/9) allowed war veterans' information secretary retired Major James Kaunye to expand on the conspiracy. He described the ZCTU demonstration as "a Western- influenced opposition thrust to cause unrest and necessitate an ungovernable situation in the country", adding, "as liberators of the country, war veterans could not allow such counter-revolutionary acts to prevail."The Chronicle echoed similar views. It accused the ZCTU leaders of having "lost the workers' mandate" by meddling in opposition politics at the expense of workers who pay subscriptions (11 & 15/9). However, the official media did not explain the "political" nature of the demonstration, nor did they condemn the violence with which the police put an end to an entirely placid attempt to protest publicly and the subsequent brutality of the assaults on those who were arrested.Instead, the government papers blindly described the demonstration as a "damp squib" that failed to take off due to workers' refusal to heed the ZCTU's call. No effort was made to relate the heavy presence of the police to the demonstration's 'failure'. Neither did they view the crushing of the protest as a violation of constitution and international human rights conventions, which guarantees citizens' freedoms of assembly and expression. They also simply suffocated the vicious nature of the arrests and the beatings in detention of the union leaders who had been arrested.In fact, readers of the government Press only got a hint of such abuses through The Herald report (16/9) on the court appearance of the arrested protestors.Even then, the paper depicted the beatings as hearsay, simply noting that ZCTU secretary-general Wellington Chibhebhe was "reportedly" in serious pain from an "alleged" assault by the police during detention and could not therefore attend a court hearing. But ZBH was the worst in this regard.The broadcaster completely ignored the arrests on the day they happened only for ZTV (14/9,7am) to sneak the matter onto its news bar the following morning. To make matters worse, it simply reported: "Just 18 people arrested in Harare including ZCTU and MDC leaders". There were no other follow-up reports, so those who rely on the broadcaster for information would still be unaware of the security authorities' savage assaults on the union leaders and MDC activists.While the voice distribution in the official papers (Fig. 1) gave the impression that they fairly tackled the subject, all the alternative and business voices merely echoed the government stance. For example, all the industrialists that the papers quoted criticised the ZCTU mass action. The Herald (13/9), for example, quoted Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries President Callisto Jokonya even threatening to "deduct a day's salary" from those who would participate in the demonstration.
Like the public Press, the Mirror group vilified the ZCTU, portraying its protests as unjustified.For example, on the day of the planned demo, The Daily Mirror (13/9) carried a front-page comment that dismissed the action as a "publicity stunt", which "smacks of testing the State's temper".Said the paper: "The planners of the marches evidently hope to score political points by raising fundamental constitutional questions about the marchers' freedoms of movement and association".Even as it emerged that the police had crushed the demo, the paper still argued that it had flopped because the ZCTU had "failed to persuade people to join in its intended nationwide mass protests". The brutal beatings that the leadership of the labour body suffered at the hands of state security agents were censored.Only audiences of the other private media were given the reasons for the union's protests, the peaceful nature of their expression, and the full extent of the police brutality, which they interpreted as part of government's attempts to strike fear into those critical of its mismanagement of the country's affairs.They carried 20 stories on the subject and other related human rights abuses. The private papers featured five, while their electronic counterparts carried the remaining 15.These media attributed the failure of the protest to the excessively heavy police presence and the violent arrest of the unionists.They also reported the brutal assaults on the ZCTU leadership in detention.
Studio 7 (14/9), for example, reported lawyer Alec Muchadehama revealing that his clients had been severely beaten by the police while detained at Matapi police station.
The Zimbabwe Independent and New Zimbabwe.Com provided more details of the beatings the following day. The Independent, for example, quoted the activists' lawyers as saying they had been "shocked" at what they saw at Matapi police station where their clients had suffered "broken limbs" and were "grappling" to get them released so that they could receive medical attention.At the weekend, The Standard (17/9) carried a story with narratives from some of the activists on their ordeals at the hands of state security agents, including condemnation of the beatings by at least 10 local and international organisations. To buttress its story, the paper carried a front-page picture of a heavily bandaged Chibebe sitting on his hospital bed.
Equally disturbing were the comments of the Acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana to the police violence, which highlighted the contempt with which the authorities hold for human rights. Studio 7 (14/7) quoted him disdainfully justifying the police brutality saying, "You apply any reasonable force to deal with elements of criminality as the situation demands" and "you don't disperse an illegal demonstration using whistles, you use baton sticks.
THE private media also reported on the earlier arrests of scores of other protestors, mostly women from the civic rights organization, WOZA, and students, who had also attempted to demonstrate peacefully against intensifying economic hardships and human rights abuses. These media also broke the news of the deportation of members of the visiting South African Youth Alliance.
(Edited):ZimJournalists Does Not Accept Responsibility For the Content of This Report
(11/09-17/09
New Govt Radio Station On the Cards, Studio 24/7
THIS week Acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana reinforced the authorities' paranoid perception of the media, particularly the private ones. The Herald (11/9) passively quoted him replaying his predecessors' defence of the country's tyrannical media laws and accusing "some journalists" of "working" under "the cover of darkness" with "the country's enemies" by "continuously attacking the establishment" in "an effort to effect regime change". This, he claimed - without providing a shred of evidence - was part of the "scheme of things" Britain and America were employing to "destabilise the country" and bring about a change of government.
No attempt was made to challenge these tired claims, which government has used to justify its dictatorial tendencies. Instead, the paper allowed him to defend the obnoxious Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act on the flimsy grounds that it was meant to regulate the media after the "industry could not organise itself for self-regulation", a situation he claimed would have "inspired rewarding recklessness".
Broadcasting Services Act To Stay
The next day the minister dampened any hopes that government would heed calls for the democratisation of the broadcasting sector. The Herald reported him announcing that the authorities would not repeal sections of the repressive Broadcasting Services Act barring foreign ownership of private broadcasters; one of the main constraints independent observers have noted hindered the establishment of the private stations. More worrying however, is that while the minister ruled out any "policy shift on broadcasting", he announced (11&12/9) that government would "before the end of the year" set up another radio station under ZBH to be called Studio 24/7.He claimed the station, which would broadcast on "shortwave", was "meant to counter propaganda by hostile media organisations.by telling the true Zimbabwean story". The paper allowed such announcements to pass without unravelling the underlying intentions of the move. For instance, it avoided discussing the authorities' attempts to cause confusion among the public by giving the station a name similar to that of the Voice of America's Studio 7.
Neither did it ask why government wanted to establish another radio station when it already controls all the four that are available in the country. The paper avoided interpreting the development as part of government plans to further swamp Zimbabweans with official propaganda, and all the more so considering it has taken to jamming the Short Wave and Medium Wave frequencies of private stations whose news broadcasts have become popular sources of alternative information. 2. Freedoms curtailed.
ZCTU Media Coverage
THE government media's failure to expose the continued erosion of the citizens' basic rights was illustrated by their coverage of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) protest against economic hardships, and human right abuses.These media either censored the issues or merely amplified the authorities' threats against the labour body without viewing them as a reflection of government's intolerance of dissent. This was evident in the 21 stories they carried on the attempted ZCTU protest. Of these, 18 featured in the official Press while ZBH aired only three. For example, in total disregard of basic journalistic practice, these media merely magnified official propaganda discrediting the call for mass action by weaving conspiracy theories around the protest. It was in this context that they passively portrayed it as 'illegal' without demonstrating how.ZBH exemplified this professional docility.Despite having initially censored reports on the ZCTU's calls for protests, Spot FM (12/9, 1pm) quoted police spokesman Oliver Mandipaka threatening that the police would "deal" with the ZCTU as their demonstration was "illegal".Said Mandipaka: "If any people think they can gang up and demonstrate in contravention of the provisions of (POSA) definitely the long arm of the law will deal with them and the police are prepared to deal with any malcontents." The station allowed these threats to pass as normal. Similarly, The Herald (12/9) unquestioningly reported Labour Minister Nicholas Goche dismissing the planned action as "mind-boggling", saying the labour body had a "hidden agenda, which they intend to achieve using the issue of the (Poverty Datum Line) as a smokescreen to hide their true intentions".Without challenging him to substantiate these claims, the paper (13/9) allowed war veterans' information secretary retired Major James Kaunye to expand on the conspiracy. He described the ZCTU demonstration as "a Western- influenced opposition thrust to cause unrest and necessitate an ungovernable situation in the country", adding, "as liberators of the country, war veterans could not allow such counter-revolutionary acts to prevail."The Chronicle echoed similar views. It accused the ZCTU leaders of having "lost the workers' mandate" by meddling in opposition politics at the expense of workers who pay subscriptions (11 & 15/9). However, the official media did not explain the "political" nature of the demonstration, nor did they condemn the violence with which the police put an end to an entirely placid attempt to protest publicly and the subsequent brutality of the assaults on those who were arrested.Instead, the government papers blindly described the demonstration as a "damp squib" that failed to take off due to workers' refusal to heed the ZCTU's call. No effort was made to relate the heavy presence of the police to the demonstration's 'failure'. Neither did they view the crushing of the protest as a violation of constitution and international human rights conventions, which guarantees citizens' freedoms of assembly and expression. They also simply suffocated the vicious nature of the arrests and the beatings in detention of the union leaders who had been arrested.In fact, readers of the government Press only got a hint of such abuses through The Herald report (16/9) on the court appearance of the arrested protestors.Even then, the paper depicted the beatings as hearsay, simply noting that ZCTU secretary-general Wellington Chibhebhe was "reportedly" in serious pain from an "alleged" assault by the police during detention and could not therefore attend a court hearing. But ZBH was the worst in this regard.The broadcaster completely ignored the arrests on the day they happened only for ZTV (14/9,7am) to sneak the matter onto its news bar the following morning. To make matters worse, it simply reported: "Just 18 people arrested in Harare including ZCTU and MDC leaders". There were no other follow-up reports, so those who rely on the broadcaster for information would still be unaware of the security authorities' savage assaults on the union leaders and MDC activists.While the voice distribution in the official papers (Fig. 1) gave the impression that they fairly tackled the subject, all the alternative and business voices merely echoed the government stance. For example, all the industrialists that the papers quoted criticised the ZCTU mass action. The Herald (13/9), for example, quoted Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries President Callisto Jokonya even threatening to "deduct a day's salary" from those who would participate in the demonstration.
Like the public Press, the Mirror group vilified the ZCTU, portraying its protests as unjustified.For example, on the day of the planned demo, The Daily Mirror (13/9) carried a front-page comment that dismissed the action as a "publicity stunt", which "smacks of testing the State's temper".Said the paper: "The planners of the marches evidently hope to score political points by raising fundamental constitutional questions about the marchers' freedoms of movement and association".Even as it emerged that the police had crushed the demo, the paper still argued that it had flopped because the ZCTU had "failed to persuade people to join in its intended nationwide mass protests". The brutal beatings that the leadership of the labour body suffered at the hands of state security agents were censored.Only audiences of the other private media were given the reasons for the union's protests, the peaceful nature of their expression, and the full extent of the police brutality, which they interpreted as part of government's attempts to strike fear into those critical of its mismanagement of the country's affairs.They carried 20 stories on the subject and other related human rights abuses. The private papers featured five, while their electronic counterparts carried the remaining 15.These media attributed the failure of the protest to the excessively heavy police presence and the violent arrest of the unionists.They also reported the brutal assaults on the ZCTU leadership in detention.
Studio 7 (14/9), for example, reported lawyer Alec Muchadehama revealing that his clients had been severely beaten by the police while detained at Matapi police station.
The Zimbabwe Independent and New Zimbabwe.Com provided more details of the beatings the following day. The Independent, for example, quoted the activists' lawyers as saying they had been "shocked" at what they saw at Matapi police station where their clients had suffered "broken limbs" and were "grappling" to get them released so that they could receive medical attention.At the weekend, The Standard (17/9) carried a story with narratives from some of the activists on their ordeals at the hands of state security agents, including condemnation of the beatings by at least 10 local and international organisations. To buttress its story, the paper carried a front-page picture of a heavily bandaged Chibebe sitting on his hospital bed.
Equally disturbing were the comments of the Acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana to the police violence, which highlighted the contempt with which the authorities hold for human rights. Studio 7 (14/7) quoted him disdainfully justifying the police brutality saying, "You apply any reasonable force to deal with elements of criminality as the situation demands" and "you don't disperse an illegal demonstration using whistles, you use baton sticks.
THE private media also reported on the earlier arrests of scores of other protestors, mostly women from the civic rights organization, WOZA, and students, who had also attempted to demonstrate peacefully against intensifying economic hardships and human rights abuses. These media also broke the news of the deportation of members of the visiting South African Youth Alliance.
(Edited):ZimJournalists Does Not Accept Responsibility For the Content of This Report
The Role of Journalism and the Dangers Facing
By Allister Sparks at a MISA dinner held in Harare 2 weeks ago and published in this week's Standard Newspaper.
Sparks is a South African world reknowed journalist, editor and writer. He has 40 years of journalism experience and is a Pulitzer Prize Nominee.
By that I mean journalism's role in building democracy and some of the dangers I now see creeping in or looming ahead.
Let me say right away that I don’t believe journalism has any specific role as such, in the sense of a conscious, propagandistic role. No, good journalism should never be propagandistic. The moment it becomes so, it ceases to be good journalism.
Good Journalism Essential For Democracy
But it just so happens that good journalism, which is the free reporting and analysing of information, and the exchange of opinions based on that information, creates and sustains democracy. It is, in fact, an integral part of democracy. In the words of the late Walter Lippman, the great American journalist/philosopher, "Press freedom is an organic necessity in a democracy".
Or to put it another way - I don’t know of any democracy anywhere in the world that has ever existed without freedom of speech and of the media. Conversely, I don’t know of any country that has ever had a free media without being a democracy. The two go together, always and everywhere. Authoritarianism and free expression cannot co-exist.
What do we mean when we say this? Simply that media freedom is essential if you are to have an informed public. And an informed public is essential if you are to have democracy. If the public in any society is not well informed then it cannot make informed decisions about how it should be governed or who should govern it. Such a public cannot hold its government accountable for corruption or any other forms of mismanagement. You have to have the information if you are to hold a regime accountable for poor policies or acts of bad governance – and you can only have that information if the media provides you with it.
It may have been possible in earlier times, in the days of the Greek city state or the African community, to gather those small communities together around the fountain or under the marula tree and for the leaders to speak to them and present the policy choices and seek collective agreement on those choices. But not in the large, complex, modern state. That is why we have representative government; why we elect people to represent us in making those choices, and why therefore we need a free media to keep us informed on what is happening in all sectors of these complex societies and how those elected representatives are responding, what choices they are making, so that we can hold them accountable and change them if necessary.
If the media is muzzled or restricted, then information will be withheld from the public and the public will be uninformed or misinformed, at which point democracy shrivels and poor governance goes uncorrected.
So it is not a question of propagandising any particular political party, or political leader, or political ideology. It is simply a matter of keeping the public as fully and accurately informed as possible about what is happening in the country and the world, of analysing what policies and events mean, and of providing a platform for public debate of those policies and events.
One thing is fundamental in all of this. When we journalists call for media freedom we are not asking for any special concession or dispensation for a particular industry. We ask for no more than what every citizen of a democratic society should have – freedom of expression. If the media are silenced on any issue, the public are silenced too and deprived of their democratic right to know what is going on. Every single member of that society. That is when democracy dies and dictatorship begins. And when dictatorship begins, tyranny will not be far behind.
Too Much Power Corrupts Journalism
Now all this may seem like kindergarten stuff, self-evident to those of us who are journalists. Yet elementary though it may seem it needs to be constantly asserted and constantly defended, for power is an addictive thing that craves expansion and is constantly trying to reduce or remove whatever is obstructing it. Power is assertive and hates to be restrained. Power is arrogant and hates to be challenged or held accountable. Above all, power is powerful and resourceful, constantly seeking ways to remove or circumvent those who insist on calling it to account. Sometimes by blunt methods, like censorship or the closing of newspapers such as we have seen in Zimbabwe.
US Propganda
And sometimes in more subtle ways, like claiming that as the elected representatives of the public it has the right to withhold information that it believes would not be in the national interest to disclose. Or, as in the United States, it can call for and expect uncritical patriotic solidarity in time of war – which happens to be a war against terrorism which of course means a war without end.
But I want to talk about some even more insidious threats to our journalism than those. More insidious because they come from within ourselves.
The first of these is articulated by that sharp and important critic of the media, Noam Chomsky, who accuses us journalists of becoming part of what he calls "an elite consensus". In other words, as we spend our days reporting on the doings of important people in our societies, the elite of our societies, the decision-makers, we slip into their orbit, we become dependent on them as sources and so we try to please them, or at least to avoid antagonising them; we cultivate them as contacts; we socialise with them; we go to their dinner parties and cocktail parties; we share ideas with them – and so, incrementally, we start to think like them, to see the world we are reporting on through their eyes. We become part of an elite consensus.
The most vivid example of this, of course, is the embedded war correspondent who goes into battle with the troops of his country's army. That correspondent is not, cannot be, objective in his or her reporting of the war. He is dependent on the soldiers he is with for his own safety. The enemies they are fighting are his enemies, too, trying to kill him. He can’t have empathy for them or their cause. The troops around him become his comrades, sharing the same shelter, maybe the same food, the same dangers and the same hopes for success in the fight against the common enemies out there. Such a correspondent is the furthest thing imaginable from an objective reporter.
But at least we know that. It has been the subject of much debate and soul-searching among journalists covering such controversial conflicts as the war in Iraq and between the Israeli military and Hezbollah
What we are less aware of is the extent to which all of us, to a degree, become embedded with our contacts – whether we are covering politics or business or the police or sport.
Editors Beware
Our Editors mix with the powerful. They drink with them, schmooze with them, become part of them. Part of the elite of our society. And so incrementally and insidiously they become part of the elite consensus in their views on many aspects of society. I know, I have been there, done that and felt the insidious conformity pressures.
The only antidote, really, is awareness. Be aware of the dangers of being sucked in to the consensus view. Remember the old adage that the good journalist’s role is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable – and remember it particularly when you are drinking and schmoozing with the comfortable.
By Allister Sparks at a MISA dinner held in Harare 2 weeks ago and published in this week's Standard Newspaper.
Sparks is a South African world reknowed journalist, editor and writer. He has 40 years of journalism experience and is a Pulitzer Prize Nominee.
By that I mean journalism's role in building democracy and some of the dangers I now see creeping in or looming ahead.
Let me say right away that I don’t believe journalism has any specific role as such, in the sense of a conscious, propagandistic role. No, good journalism should never be propagandistic. The moment it becomes so, it ceases to be good journalism.
Good Journalism Essential For Democracy
But it just so happens that good journalism, which is the free reporting and analysing of information, and the exchange of opinions based on that information, creates and sustains democracy. It is, in fact, an integral part of democracy. In the words of the late Walter Lippman, the great American journalist/philosopher, "Press freedom is an organic necessity in a democracy".
Or to put it another way - I don’t know of any democracy anywhere in the world that has ever existed without freedom of speech and of the media. Conversely, I don’t know of any country that has ever had a free media without being a democracy. The two go together, always and everywhere. Authoritarianism and free expression cannot co-exist.
What do we mean when we say this? Simply that media freedom is essential if you are to have an informed public. And an informed public is essential if you are to have democracy. If the public in any society is not well informed then it cannot make informed decisions about how it should be governed or who should govern it. Such a public cannot hold its government accountable for corruption or any other forms of mismanagement. You have to have the information if you are to hold a regime accountable for poor policies or acts of bad governance – and you can only have that information if the media provides you with it.
It may have been possible in earlier times, in the days of the Greek city state or the African community, to gather those small communities together around the fountain or under the marula tree and for the leaders to speak to them and present the policy choices and seek collective agreement on those choices. But not in the large, complex, modern state. That is why we have representative government; why we elect people to represent us in making those choices, and why therefore we need a free media to keep us informed on what is happening in all sectors of these complex societies and how those elected representatives are responding, what choices they are making, so that we can hold them accountable and change them if necessary.
If the media is muzzled or restricted, then information will be withheld from the public and the public will be uninformed or misinformed, at which point democracy shrivels and poor governance goes uncorrected.
So it is not a question of propagandising any particular political party, or political leader, or political ideology. It is simply a matter of keeping the public as fully and accurately informed as possible about what is happening in the country and the world, of analysing what policies and events mean, and of providing a platform for public debate of those policies and events.
One thing is fundamental in all of this. When we journalists call for media freedom we are not asking for any special concession or dispensation for a particular industry. We ask for no more than what every citizen of a democratic society should have – freedom of expression. If the media are silenced on any issue, the public are silenced too and deprived of their democratic right to know what is going on. Every single member of that society. That is when democracy dies and dictatorship begins. And when dictatorship begins, tyranny will not be far behind.
Too Much Power Corrupts Journalism
Now all this may seem like kindergarten stuff, self-evident to those of us who are journalists. Yet elementary though it may seem it needs to be constantly asserted and constantly defended, for power is an addictive thing that craves expansion and is constantly trying to reduce or remove whatever is obstructing it. Power is assertive and hates to be restrained. Power is arrogant and hates to be challenged or held accountable. Above all, power is powerful and resourceful, constantly seeking ways to remove or circumvent those who insist on calling it to account. Sometimes by blunt methods, like censorship or the closing of newspapers such as we have seen in Zimbabwe.
US Propganda
And sometimes in more subtle ways, like claiming that as the elected representatives of the public it has the right to withhold information that it believes would not be in the national interest to disclose. Or, as in the United States, it can call for and expect uncritical patriotic solidarity in time of war – which happens to be a war against terrorism which of course means a war without end.
But I want to talk about some even more insidious threats to our journalism than those. More insidious because they come from within ourselves.
The first of these is articulated by that sharp and important critic of the media, Noam Chomsky, who accuses us journalists of becoming part of what he calls "an elite consensus". In other words, as we spend our days reporting on the doings of important people in our societies, the elite of our societies, the decision-makers, we slip into their orbit, we become dependent on them as sources and so we try to please them, or at least to avoid antagonising them; we cultivate them as contacts; we socialise with them; we go to their dinner parties and cocktail parties; we share ideas with them – and so, incrementally, we start to think like them, to see the world we are reporting on through their eyes. We become part of an elite consensus.
The most vivid example of this, of course, is the embedded war correspondent who goes into battle with the troops of his country's army. That correspondent is not, cannot be, objective in his or her reporting of the war. He is dependent on the soldiers he is with for his own safety. The enemies they are fighting are his enemies, too, trying to kill him. He can’t have empathy for them or their cause. The troops around him become his comrades, sharing the same shelter, maybe the same food, the same dangers and the same hopes for success in the fight against the common enemies out there. Such a correspondent is the furthest thing imaginable from an objective reporter.
But at least we know that. It has been the subject of much debate and soul-searching among journalists covering such controversial conflicts as the war in Iraq and between the Israeli military and Hezbollah
What we are less aware of is the extent to which all of us, to a degree, become embedded with our contacts – whether we are covering politics or business or the police or sport.
Editors Beware
Our Editors mix with the powerful. They drink with them, schmooze with them, become part of them. Part of the elite of our society. And so incrementally and insidiously they become part of the elite consensus in their views on many aspects of society. I know, I have been there, done that and felt the insidious conformity pressures.
The only antidote, really, is awareness. Be aware of the dangers of being sucked in to the consensus view. Remember the old adage that the good journalist’s role is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable – and remember it particularly when you are drinking and schmoozing with the comfortable.
Zimbabwe To Delay Presidential Elections
Journalists to continue to be persecuted
Not going anywhere, anytime soon???
Reporting byReuters
HARARE
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's ruling party is considering delaying presidential elections in 2008 and holding the vote with general parliamentary polls in 2010, state radio reported on Sunday.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation quoted Nathan Shamuyarira, information secretary for Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, as saying although discussions were at preliminary stages, the party was looking at the possibility of postponing the 2008 poll in order to consolidate the voting calendar.
"The ruling ZANU-PF party is consulting party members and will soon lobby parliament over the possibility of holding joint presidential and parliamentary elections in 2010, a senior official has revealed," the ZBC said.
"Comrade Nathan Shamuyarira said the party was likely to push for the joint presidential-parliamentary elections to be held in 2010."
Shamuyarira was not available for further details.
Officials of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) could also not be reached for immediate comment, but has in the past said it would oppose any attempt to change the electoral calendar.
The MDC has tried unsuccessfully to press ZANU-PF to accept inter-party talks on Zimbabwe's crisis over disputed elections, security and media laws and constitutional reforms, with Mugabe saying the MDC must raise its problems in parliament.
A change in the electoral calendar would require a change in the constitution. The ruling party enjoys a technical two-thirds majority in parliament so it can pass such amendments easily.
Shamuyarira did not say whether Mugabe, 82, and in power since the southern African country's independence from Britain in 1980, would remain in office to 2010 or hand over to someone when his current six-year presidential term ends in March 2008.
Mugabe has previously suggested he will retire in 2008, but has not been categorical about the decision -- a point which analysts say means that the veteran Zimbabwean leader is keeping his options open.
There has been speculation over the past year that Mugabe might hang onto power until 2010 or retire in 2008 but only under a law allowing his chosen successor in ZANU-PF to hold power for a couple of years before facing the opposition in a 2010 general election.
Political analysts say Mugabe and ZANU-PF fear an electoral challenge amid a deepening economic crisis many blame on his government, and might hope a delay would allow time for improvement in an economy struggling with the world's highest inflation rate of over 1,200 percent.
The opposition charges that Mugabe's government has robbed it of victory in three major elections in the last six years, and says his government has become more repressive in the face of the economic meltdown.
Mugabe denies the charge, and in turn accuses the MDC of being a puppet of Western powers seeking to overthrow his party over its controversial seizures of white-owned farms to redistribute to landless blacks.© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Accept Responsibility For The Content in This Report
The Zimbabwean Looks For Exclusive Stories From Journos
Letter from Zimbabwean Editor Wilf Mbanga
we'd be happy to make a modest payment if anyone comes up with a really good story that we can have exlcusively until after our publication day - Thursdays! please pass the word around. cheers Trish/Wilf.
Anyone interested e-mail Wilf and Trish at mbanga@thezimbabwean.co.uk
Letter from Zimbabwean Editor Wilf Mbanga
we'd be happy to make a modest payment if anyone comes up with a really good story that we can have exlcusively until after our publication day - Thursdays! please pass the word around. cheers Trish/Wilf.
Anyone interested e-mail Wilf and Trish at mbanga@thezimbabwean.co.uk
The International Federation of Journalist Calls For Investigation Into DRC TV Fire
DRC President Joseph Kabila
Media Release by IFJ
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) called for a full investigation of the fire that destroyed two television stations, Canal Congo Télévision (CCTV) and Canal Kin Télévision (CKTV), and the radio station Radio Liberté on Monday 18 September in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
CCTV Director Kitutu O'Leontwa was seriously burned when the fire broke out in the building which houses CCTV, CKTV and Radio Liberté, TV and radio stations owned by the political party of the opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. “We wish a quick recovery to CCTV’s director and express our solidarity with our colleagues,” said Gabriel Baglo, director of the IFJ Africa office. “We call on the government to conduct a serious investigation to determine whether it was an accidental or a criminal fire.”
On Monday afternoon during a live show on CCTV, Kasongo Numbi, a member of the Congolese Parliament said to be close to the ruling party, was in the studio. The fire began with black smoke and then flames coming from the air conditioner in the studio, Numbi told the AFP.
The origin of the fire is not yet clear but Numbi was assaulted by building security guards and a crowd who accused him of setting the fire.
Next month, Jean-Pierre Bemba will face current president, Joseph Kabila, in a presidential election run-off. During the first round of elections, both candidates used their radio and TV stations for political propaganda.
The media regulatory body Haute Autorité des Médias shut down three stations for 24 hours in August for inciting people to violence.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Accept Responsibility For The Contents of This Report.
Friday, September 22, 2006
The Behaviour of Zimbo Journo’s At Press Conferences
No Questions To Ask Gono!!!!
What do you think, what would you have asked Gono???
Ray Mawerera
A Harare-based public relations consultant and the current President of the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Relations in this week’s Financial Gazette.
RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono exchanged some light banter with journalists following his interim review report on "Project Sunrise" recently.Earlier, during the discussion session of the presentation, the Governor had repeatedly challenged the journalists present to ask questions to avoid speculative reporting.
"Ask the questions now," he said several times. "Aika, bvunzai, ask, so that when you write, you do so with all the facts..."There were no takers. Most of the contributions had come from representatives of different sector stakeholders, mainly throwing bouquets at Dr Gono and his team for managing the process well. Others simply told the Governor about the relative ease with which they had made the transition from the three zeroes. As for the media people there, mum was the word.
One of the many stakeholders at the meeting voiced the opinion that the reason could be that the journalists did not want to be "scooped".
A "scoop" is an exclusive piece of news that every journalist dreams of unearthing or bumping into, news that no one else has. If, for instance, the journalist receives a lead on certain information he or she is unlikely to follow it up while everyone else is listening. They would rather draw the prospective Interviewee aside afterwards, to talk to them away from eavesdroppers.
This is becoming so commonplace these days that some press conferences have been reduced to near-monologues. The person addressing the press conference tells the ladies and gentlemen of the press the news they have been invited to be told and, after speaking for a while, opens the floor to questions. There is silence. Out of politeness, maybe one or two lame questions may be asked. Afterwards, when the journalists are invited to stay on for an informal chat-and-drink, they bombard the person with questions, individually.
This is how Dr Gono found himself exchanging light banter with the media after his Ilanga Seliphumile presentation.
Clients have asked why journalists seem to have taken to operating this way. There are several reasons, the primary one of which could be the issue of the elusive scoop. Another reason could be the challenges faced by reporters on weekly or monthly publications to find a news angle that would not be tackled on the electronic news bulletin that day or the daily paper tomorrow. Yet another could be that the reporter might feel they want to raise a totally different and unrelated issue.
It is, therefore, important at news conferences to know the spread of media attending in order to satisfy their areas of focus and interest. Financial newspapers may not always have the same interests as weekly family newspapers, for instance.
That's one way of handling it. Politicians, who are renowned for their creativity, have mastered the art of leaving immediately after the press conference thus precluding any chance of chat-and-drink ambushes!
Corporate organisations, of course, cannot do this and we do not recommend it because it is simply impolite. Besides, you could be passing up an opportunity to interface informally with the media -- a very important but often underestimated aspect of public relations.
Press conferences, by their very nature, are non-exclusive media events where everyone gets the same news. This is usually done when information is so topical that the likelihood of all media chasing the same story is quite high. Rather than wait to respond to each query as it comes, the organisation takes the proactive step to provide all journalists with the same information. Sometimes press releases can be issued, which serve more or less the same purpose.
The press conference, however, tends to have more impact because of its direct access nature. It provides journalists with the opportunity to follow up issues right there, ask questions, seek clarification, prod further. It can, therefore, be a source of frustration when no questions are forthcoming but a report that is factually incorrect is published. Unfortunately this has happened, creating negative perceptions of some journalists and their media organizations.
Some organisations actually do not even like press conferences. This could be because there is no restriction on what the journalists can ask. In other words, they cannot -- as a general rule -- be expected to confine themselves to questions revolving only around the subject of the press conference.
For instance, Dr Gono's Zuva Rabuda update could have been turned on its head by a journalist asking something totally removed from the issue under discussion - including, even, questions on the Governor's personal life!That is the nature of press conferences. I have seen press officers who try to direct reporters to stick to the subject at hand. Most times they are simply ignored. The journalists simply reason that this may be the only opportunity they have, especially if they are dealing with a usually busy and therefore largely inaccessible figure. They fear being roasted by their editors if they go back without the "real" story.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Letter from Phillip Pasirayi
Fellow Journos Colleagues I would like to commend you for this great
initiative.Whoever is the brainchild of this idea deserves to be thanked.Not many scribes in Zimbabwe today are able to stand up and defend the downtrodden.I have just finished my studies here in the UK and willbe joining you in the trenches in a few days time.Let us keep them informed and make this a broader and deeper idea.
Regards Phillip
Response From ZimJournalist Arise
Thank you Philipp for your words of encouragement and we look foward to offering a bigger and better product. We would like to thank our collegeaues especially those in the media who have provided us with the news. We hope we will keep the Zimbabwean Journalist Family together, whatever the distance or the obstacles. Let the comments, feedback, suggestions continue to roll i n. And most of all have a safe trip to the motherland.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Tsvangirai Press Statement on the Assault of Harare North MP Trudy Stevenson and Others
pix by the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara
President Tsvangirai's remarks at the publication of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into tphe assaults perpetrated on the Member of Parliament for Harare North, Honourable Gertrude Stevenson, and Mrs. Simangele Manyere, Mr. Linos Mushonga, Mr. Luxon Sibanda and Mr. Tawanda Mudzerema on Sunday 2 July 2006 at Harvest House.
Following a report in the Herald newspaper on Tuesday 4 July 2006 which made public an attack allegedly perpetrated against the Member of Parliament for Harare North, Honourable Gertrude Stevenson, and Mrs. Simangele Manyere, Mr. Linos Mushonga, Mr. Luxon Sibanda and Mr. Tawanda Mudzerema on Sunday 2 July 2006, we set up an independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the incident. We felt such a move was necessary given the numerous allegations linking the party, and myself in particular, to the attack. I also met a representative from the Stevenson's family who had indicated to me their concern about the allegations and sought some assurance from me about the future.
The commission, headed by Advocate Happias Zhou, carried out its work and has now concluded its report, complete with a summary of the evidence, its findings and recommendations. May I thank the commissioners for a professional and objective investigation? We have already begun to use the findings, the experiences highlighted by the commission and the lessons from the probe in an honest search for remedies to our organizational and structural weaknesses as a party.
Today, I wish to make public that report.
Once again, I wish to express my dismay with the attack on Honourable Stevenson and the other MDC members. Such a brutal act on fellow Zimbabweans, innocent human beings and committed activists could have been avoided. It is regrettable. It is clear from the findings that the state was determined to cause maximum damage on the MDC and to discredit the democratic movement. State agents ensnared and trapped Honourable Stevenson and her colleagues into this sadistic and unfortunate attack.
The report shows that neither Honourable Stevenson nor some of her colleagues knew the people who advised them to follow them and later waylaid them to the scene of attack – a secluded rural or peri-urban area outside Mabvuku. The attackers, working at a lightening pace and without any notice of members of the public or eyewitnesses, took place in Harare East constituency in the Chishawasha area.
The events leading to the attack and methods used in attack, according the investigation, show that a professional hit man directed the assailants with precision and a broad political motive. We shall handover a copy of this report to Honourable Stevenson for her perusal, for her own information and possible use at her own discretion.
A major highlight of the report is a confirmation of our long-held suspicion of heavy infiltration in the party. After the regime's failure to liquidate the MDC following the leadership crack on October 12 last year, Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF changed their tactics and are still pursuing their project to destroy the MDC. Before October 12, the regime targeted our provinces and provincial structures for infiltration. When they realized that the rest of the party remained intact at the grassroots level, they changed tact.
The report shows that they have since moved downwards and are still working on this destructive project. It is clear from the report that some state security agents direct party affairs and determine the party agenda in Mabvuku. The constituency is heavily infiltrated and all our members and structures in the area are at risk. Not surprisingly, the Advocate Zhou commission noted that some of the people working with Honourable Stevenson in Mabvuku were suspect and could have been working against her own political interests.
The report shows that Mabvuku may just be one of the many constituencies with a web of bugs and spooks. We are grateful that we can now institute a process of clearing up our structures in Mabvuku and in other areas to contain and vaccinate the party against negative external influences. The National Executive Committee shall meet soon to institute an intensive leadership analysis and scrutiny at all levels in order to set in motion a regular process of weeding out nests of saboteurs and others whose agenda is at variance with what we seek to achieve.
Zanu PF and Mugabe have a history of infiltrating political parties and interfering with their legitimate political activities. The MDC has been a prime target for such a project during the past seven years. The report on what happened in Mabvuku provides ample evidence of a sustained conspiracy to damage the reputation of the MDC and to direct the party focus onto its internal differences.
Mugabe is desperately looking for breathing space and has now gone down to our lowest structures to promote violence against the people. Mugabe and Zanu PF must understand that violence is a symptom of a deeper societal dysfunction. As long as certain fundamentals remain unattended to and the police turn a blind eye to their Constitutional duty, violence is set to live with us for sometime. In the case of Mabvuku, it took the police four days to move in and, by the look of things today, the investigations have already been bungled up. The people who should be made to account for the attack on Honourable Stevenson and others may never be punished because of Zanu PF's interests. Mugabe cherishes a society in which violence dominates political activity.
We are a young party, with a membership born and raised in a climate where violence was officially encouraged and celebrated. Mugabe, as the founding President of the Zimbabwe whose regime inherited a violent culture, worsened the situation and even boasted that his party has its own degrees in violence. We are suffering from the contagion of state-sponsored violence. Our young membership is vulnerable to abuse for a variety of reasons. They are hungry and poor. They are idle and jobs are scarce. The regime has abandoned them. We disagree with some of the findings because they are based on factually incorrect information. For instance, the commission says we have a security department headed by Nhamo Musekiwa. We do not have such a department. The commission also states that previous attempts to address issues of violence within the party failed top bear fruit. That is incorrect. We took action against certain individuals involved in violence in the past. In June 2005, we expelled more than 30 youths from the party because of their violent activities. It is common cause that Mugabe owns a militia which he uses to perpetuate the culture of violence. We understand they trained 300 000 and deployed them in urban areas. Only yesterday, this militia was active at our border posts looking for bearer cheques. Only yesterday, these poisoned youths assaulted and injured civil society leaders wishing to take part in ZCTU march.
The attack on the ZCTU leadership was carefully planned by the regime. A task force, made up of selected army loyalists mainly from the Presidential Guard, the militia and Zanu PF youths, was put together by the army intelligence unit. The force, numbering 450 personnel, was drawn from Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West provinces.Governor Masawi and Saviour Kasukuwere supplied the militia. The teams were deployed from I Commando barracks. The attack on the labour leaders was co-ordinated and directed by the military and senior Zanu PF leaders.
As a labour-backed party, we feel that our base is now under siege. There was no justification for denying workers their right to express themselves. We shall therefore inform a number of international organisations, including SADC, the AU and the United Nations of the local situation and express our displeasure at the behaviour of the Mugabe regime. Zanu PF and Mugabe want to trivialise the Zimbabwean struggle and to make it appear as if Zimbabweans are a confused lot, incapable of finding permanent solutions to their national problems. The attack on Honourable Stevenson and others may not be the last act of the regime to dampen our people's confidence in the MDC.
We know Mugabe shall from time to time select targets for attack, for his propaganda purposes, using a range of surrogates in order to selectively damage our reputation at home and abroad.
Muradzikwa To Take Over ZBH???
Reporting by NewZimbabwe.Com
UK
ZIMBABWE'S troubled state broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH), will this week name former Ziana Editor-In-Chief Henry Muradzikwa as the new chief executive officer, New Zimbabwe.com has learnt.
Sources within ZBH said staff now feared a culling of journalists and other staff, particularly the young crop of reporters and presenters at the corporation.
A source at ZBH revealed: "There was so much expectation mainly from workers about the much-talked about change, but reports of an old and retired journalist coming back means doom, at least according to the sentiment."
Muradzikwa was last week seen having lunch with a committee of the ZBH board that appointed him. He is said to have demanded a brand new Mercedes as part of his pay package.
A ZBH source said: "We can expect Muradzikwa to bring back the Radio Maputo war-vets-cum-journalists to manage the succession war within Zanu PF. It seems all the young editors and managers are on their way out."
Radio Maputo was a radio station set up by Zimbabwe's independence war veterans to relay messages during the war of independence from white minority rule in the 1970s.
Muradzikwa's insistence that he wants to be given his Mercedes before assuming office has delayed his appointment which could have been made last week, sources said.
The ZBH has no money and has been struggling to pay staff salaries. ZBH sources believe the government will pump in an extra $3 billion (new currency) at the next budget to bolster the publicity machinery and lift staff morale.
Muradzikwa would be expected to implement a second wave of reforms announced by former Information Minister Tichaona Jokonya before his sudden death in July.
Jokonya wanted to reverse changes made by his predecessor, Jonathan Moyo, who unbundled the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) to form nine companies, although only six companies were ever set up.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Al-Jazeera To Spread Its Wings to Africa
Reporting by the Peninsula
Doha
Al Jazeera International yesterday announced its full line-up of bureaus and correspondents across Africa before its global launch slated for later this year. There will be bureaus in Cairo (Egypt), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Harare (Zimbabwe).
A release said that in addition, Al Jazeera International will share the resources of Al Jazeera Arabic Channel’s African bureaus located in Ndjamena (Chad), Tripoli (Libya), Nouakchott (Mauritania), Rabat (Morocco), Dakar (Senegal), Mogadishu (Somalia), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Khartoum (Sudan).
On a visit to South Africa, Al Jazeera International Managing Director Nigel Parsons said: “Our reporting from Africa will be unparallleled. We will have more bureaus and resources dedicated to Africa than any other global broadcaster."
Steve Clark, Director of News, said in Doha: “We are planning other bureaus across Africa and will be announcing them in due course.”
Al Jazeera International is the only global news channel to be granted a licence to operate a bureau in Zimbabwe. African Bureau Chief Andrew Simmons has been coordinating sub-Saharan coverage and will also be deployed on special reporting assignments. Al Jazeera has also announced that it has appointed correspondents Amr El Khaky in Cairo, Gabi Menezes in Abidjan and Haru Mutasa in Nairobi. They join Farai Sevenzo as correspondent in Harare and Kalay Maistry as correspondent in Johannesburg.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Reporting by the Peninsula
Doha
Al Jazeera International yesterday announced its full line-up of bureaus and correspondents across Africa before its global launch slated for later this year. There will be bureaus in Cairo (Egypt), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Harare (Zimbabwe).
A release said that in addition, Al Jazeera International will share the resources of Al Jazeera Arabic Channel’s African bureaus located in Ndjamena (Chad), Tripoli (Libya), Nouakchott (Mauritania), Rabat (Morocco), Dakar (Senegal), Mogadishu (Somalia), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Khartoum (Sudan).
On a visit to South Africa, Al Jazeera International Managing Director Nigel Parsons said: “Our reporting from Africa will be unparallleled. We will have more bureaus and resources dedicated to Africa than any other global broadcaster."
Steve Clark, Director of News, said in Doha: “We are planning other bureaus across Africa and will be announcing them in due course.”
Al Jazeera International is the only global news channel to be granted a licence to operate a bureau in Zimbabwe. African Bureau Chief Andrew Simmons has been coordinating sub-Saharan coverage and will also be deployed on special reporting assignments. Al Jazeera has also announced that it has appointed correspondents Amr El Khaky in Cairo, Gabi Menezes in Abidjan and Haru Mutasa in Nairobi. They join Farai Sevenzo as correspondent in Harare and Kalay Maistry as correspondent in Johannesburg.
ZimJournalists Arise Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content Of This Report
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Tsvangirayi Presser Tomorrow
By Nelson Chamisa, Secretary for Information and Publicity
Harare
President Morgan Tsvangirai will tomorrow address a press conference at Harvest House at 11am. The issues to be covered include the reporton the Mabvuku violence in which Honourable Trudy Stevenson was attacked and the ZCTU-led protests in which the leaders and several other activists were brutally assaulted while in police custody. All national executive members are encouraged to attend this important press conference.
By Nelson Chamisa, Secretary for Information and Publicity
Harare
President Morgan Tsvangirai will tomorrow address a press conference at Harvest House at 11am. The issues to be covered include the reporton the Mabvuku violence in which Honourable Trudy Stevenson was attacked and the ZCTU-led protests in which the leaders and several other activists were brutally assaulted while in police custody. All national executive members are encouraged to attend this important press conference.
Four Zimbo Journalists Win Awards
Reporting by MISA-ZIMBABWE
Harare
The Board and Secretariat of MISA-Zimbabwe would like to congratulate Virginia Muwanigwa, Phyllis Kachere, Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and Tsitsi Dangarembga who scooped four awards during the recent Gender and Media Summit (GEM) held in Johannesburg, South Africa.The Gender and Media awards were tightly contested registering a record 187 entries in 12 categories in a competition that was open to 12 countries. The judges considered among other issues, the gender media balance of sources (voices), gender neutral language, awareness of differential impact, fairness in approach to issues and usage of simple accessible gender sensitive language.
Muwanigwa and Kachere won awards in the print category. Mukwazhi grabbed his in the photography category whilst Dangarembga walked away with the award in the television category. Dangarembga’s documentary; Growing Stronger, was filmed and produced by an all female crew.
The fact that Zimbabweans won several awards, demonstrates improved consciousness on gender mainstreaming in the media. Mukwazhi was among the three males recognised for their gender sensitive coverage of events in a clear demonstration that gender issues can be addressed eloquently and professionally by both men and women.
ZimJournalists Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content In This Article
Reporting by MISA-ZIMBABWE
Harare
The Board and Secretariat of MISA-Zimbabwe would like to congratulate Virginia Muwanigwa, Phyllis Kachere, Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and Tsitsi Dangarembga who scooped four awards during the recent Gender and Media Summit (GEM) held in Johannesburg, South Africa.The Gender and Media awards were tightly contested registering a record 187 entries in 12 categories in a competition that was open to 12 countries. The judges considered among other issues, the gender media balance of sources (voices), gender neutral language, awareness of differential impact, fairness in approach to issues and usage of simple accessible gender sensitive language.
Muwanigwa and Kachere won awards in the print category. Mukwazhi grabbed his in the photography category whilst Dangarembga walked away with the award in the television category. Dangarembga’s documentary; Growing Stronger, was filmed and produced by an all female crew.
The fact that Zimbabweans won several awards, demonstrates improved consciousness on gender mainstreaming in the media. Mukwazhi was among the three males recognised for their gender sensitive coverage of events in a clear demonstration that gender issues can be addressed eloquently and professionally by both men and women.
ZimJournalists Does Not Take Responsibility For The Content In This Article
Journalist To Appear In Court
Reporting by All-Africa.Com
USA
Mike Saburi, a freelance cameraperson arrestedtogether with leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) ahead of planned nationwide
demonstrations, were granted bail on 15September 2006 and remanded to 3 October for trial.
Harare Magistrate Olivia Mariga granted Saburi,ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo and 28 otheraccused persons Z$ 20,000 (approx. $US80) bail
each when they appeared in court on initial remandon charges of ontravening Section 37 (1) (b)Chapter 9: 23 of the Criminal Law (Codification andReform Act), which deals with conduct likely to
breach public peace.
ZimJournalists Does Not Take Responsibility for the Content In This Article
Reporting by All-Africa.Com
USA
Mike Saburi, a freelance cameraperson arrestedtogether with leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) ahead of planned nationwide
demonstrations, were granted bail on 15September 2006 and remanded to 3 October for trial.
Harare Magistrate Olivia Mariga granted Saburi,ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo and 28 otheraccused persons Z$ 20,000 (approx. $US80) bail
each when they appeared in court on initial remandon charges of ontravening Section 37 (1) (b)Chapter 9: 23 of the Criminal Law (Codification andReform Act), which deals with conduct likely to
breach public peace.
ZimJournalists Does Not Take Responsibility for the Content In This Article
Monday, September 18, 2006
Govt Journos Walk Out on Minister
Does Anybody Know who these brave journalists are???
Reporting by The Standard
Harare
FOUR journalists from both the private and public media on Friday walked out on Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr
Edwin Muguti, as he was addressing an "urgent" Press conference to redeem himself from statements he made two weeks ago.
Among these were reporters from The Herald.
Muguti had earlier accused the National Aids Council (NAC) of under-performing and failing to account for funds it got through the National Aids Trust Fund, formerly the Aids Levy.
Although the Press conference was meant for Muguti to retract his statement, the deputy minister tried to shift the blame to the media.
He blamed the media for "unfair" coverage of his statements and said that the media had "blown the issue out of proportion" by making it appear as though there was a "major war" between the NAC and his ministry.
He said: "I want to put it on record that my criticism of NAC was taken out of context and that the statements I made were purely historical.
Disclaimer:
ZimJournalists Arise does not accept responsibility for the contents of this stroy
Does Anybody Know who these brave journalists are???
Reporting by The Standard
Harare
FOUR journalists from both the private and public media on Friday walked out on Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr
Edwin Muguti, as he was addressing an "urgent" Press conference to redeem himself from statements he made two weeks ago.
Among these were reporters from The Herald.
Muguti had earlier accused the National Aids Council (NAC) of under-performing and failing to account for funds it got through the National Aids Trust Fund, formerly the Aids Levy.
Although the Press conference was meant for Muguti to retract his statement, the deputy minister tried to shift the blame to the media.
He blamed the media for "unfair" coverage of his statements and said that the media had "blown the issue out of proportion" by making it appear as though there was a "major war" between the NAC and his ministry.
He said: "I want to put it on record that my criticism of NAC was taken out of context and that the statements I made were purely historical.
Disclaimer:
ZimJournalists Arise does not accept responsibility for the contents of this stroy
Friday, September 15, 2006
ZimJournalists Arise Mission Statement
Since our birth a few weeks ago we have received numerous e-mails and questions about who we are and what we do.
To set the record straight, we are a group of Zimbabwean journalists, at home and abroad, who want to keep the spirit of Zimbabwean journalism alive.
The blog is run by no-one in particular and everyone in general. Journalists and Zimbabweans at large are welcome to make contributions.
ZimJournalists Arise is a BLOG and please note, not a WEBSITE, that is about issues to deal with journalists first and the general political economic and social environment in Zimbabwe. We are there to highlight activities affecting and to do with journalists. We hope to stimulate debate and conversation among journalists and those who work with journalists.
We are not affiliated to any political party or any media, be it independent owned or government-owned.
We are not in competition with any website but believe our role is to complement what is already there and most importantly not re-invent the wheel.
Owing to the few resources have we are currently relying heavily on already published material and are not in anyway responsible for any of the contents that those articles may carry.
Thank you for your support
Thank you.
ZimJournalists Arise Team
Since our birth a few weeks ago we have received numerous e-mails and questions about who we are and what we do.
To set the record straight, we are a group of Zimbabwean journalists, at home and abroad, who want to keep the spirit of Zimbabwean journalism alive.
The blog is run by no-one in particular and everyone in general. Journalists and Zimbabweans at large are welcome to make contributions.
ZimJournalists Arise is a BLOG and please note, not a WEBSITE, that is about issues to deal with journalists first and the general political economic and social environment in Zimbabwe. We are there to highlight activities affecting and to do with journalists. We hope to stimulate debate and conversation among journalists and those who work with journalists.
We are not affiliated to any political party or any media, be it independent owned or government-owned.
We are not in competition with any website but believe our role is to complement what is already there and most importantly not re-invent the wheel.
Owing to the few resources have we are currently relying heavily on already published material and are not in anyway responsible for any of the contents that those articles may carry.
Thank you for your support
Thank you.
ZimJournalists Arise Team
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Reuters Journalist Sabure Arrested
Reporting by SWRadio Africa
Additional Reporting by ZimJournalists Arise
UK
A Reuters cameraman Mike Sabure was beaten and arrested in Harare while covering the protest marches organised by the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions, Wednesday.
Freelance journalist Gift Phiri said Sabure was filming the police beating people when policeofficers wielding metre long baton sticks started beating him up. Phiri said the Reuters cameraman tried to show them his accreditation cardbut they kept assaulting him and bundled him into the police Defender truck.
Also arrested was Zimbabwe National Students Union President, Promise Mkwananzi. According to ZINASU, Mkwananzi was picked up at the UZ campus today for conniving with the ZCTU in demonstrating and being involved in last weekend's Mutare Students General Council Meeting.
He was arrested at the same time as civic leader RaymondMajongwe from the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Grace Kwinjeh from the Tsvangirai MDC and several others. The group is being held together with the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) activists arrested on Monday. The 107 WOZA women were arrested whilst trying toprotest at Town House at the shocking service delivery experienced in the capital.
One of the women arrested was rushed to Parirenyatwa hospital Tuesday to give birth after she went into labour in police custody. Six more WOZA were arrested alongside ZCTU protesters in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
Reporting by SWRadio Africa
Additional Reporting by ZimJournalists Arise
UK
A Reuters cameraman Mike Sabure was beaten and arrested in Harare while covering the protest marches organised by the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions, Wednesday.
Freelance journalist Gift Phiri said Sabure was filming the police beating people when policeofficers wielding metre long baton sticks started beating him up. Phiri said the Reuters cameraman tried to show them his accreditation cardbut they kept assaulting him and bundled him into the police Defender truck.
Also arrested was Zimbabwe National Students Union President, Promise Mkwananzi. According to ZINASU, Mkwananzi was picked up at the UZ campus today for conniving with the ZCTU in demonstrating and being involved in last weekend's Mutare Students General Council Meeting.
He was arrested at the same time as civic leader RaymondMajongwe from the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Grace Kwinjeh from the Tsvangirai MDC and several others. The group is being held together with the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) activists arrested on Monday. The 107 WOZA women were arrested whilst trying toprotest at Town House at the shocking service delivery experienced in the capital.
One of the women arrested was rushed to Parirenyatwa hospital Tuesday to give birth after she went into labour in police custody. Six more WOZA were arrested alongside ZCTU protesters in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
Newsnet Boss Mandizvidza In Court
Reporting by the Herald
Harare
NewsNet editor-in-chief Tazzen Mandizvidza appeared at the Harare magistrates’ courts on Tuesday on charges of presenting a fake drivers licence to the police. Mandizvidza (33) was not asked to plead to charges of contravening the Road Traffic Act when he was brought before magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga.
Defence lawyer Mr Tendai Mapfunde of Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners told the court that he needed time to study the State papers that he had just received, and the trial was postponed to September 21 this year.He was released on free bail since his case was brought on summons.
Charges against Mandizvidza are that on June 6 2004, he was driving along Sam Nujoma Street in Harare when he was involved in an accident.It is alleged that the police instructed Mandizvidza to produce his driver’s licence, vehicle registration book and insurance to any police station within seven days.The State alleges that Mandizvidza presented to the police a metal driver’s licence with his date of birth as December 5 1973, licence number 55111AM and his picture.
Mandizvidza was given back his particulars and he went away.After some time, the police made checks with the Central Vehicle Registry and discovered that the licence Mandizvidza had presented to the police actually belonged to one Gibson Boroma of Budiriro.The State alleges that Mandizvidza knew very well that the licence was bogus and that soon after the incident, he travelled to Plumtree where he acquired a genuine driver’s licence that he is currently using.Prosecutor Mr David Manavele said Mandizvidza had no right whatsoever to act in the manner he did.
Reporting by the Herald
Harare
NewsNet editor-in-chief Tazzen Mandizvidza appeared at the Harare magistrates’ courts on Tuesday on charges of presenting a fake drivers licence to the police. Mandizvidza (33) was not asked to plead to charges of contravening the Road Traffic Act when he was brought before magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga.
Defence lawyer Mr Tendai Mapfunde of Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners told the court that he needed time to study the State papers that he had just received, and the trial was postponed to September 21 this year.He was released on free bail since his case was brought on summons.
Charges against Mandizvidza are that on June 6 2004, he was driving along Sam Nujoma Street in Harare when he was involved in an accident.It is alleged that the police instructed Mandizvidza to produce his driver’s licence, vehicle registration book and insurance to any police station within seven days.The State alleges that Mandizvidza presented to the police a metal driver’s licence with his date of birth as December 5 1973, licence number 55111AM and his picture.
Mandizvidza was given back his particulars and he went away.After some time, the police made checks with the Central Vehicle Registry and discovered that the licence Mandizvidza had presented to the police actually belonged to one Gibson Boroma of Budiriro.The State alleges that Mandizvidza knew very well that the licence was bogus and that soon after the incident, he travelled to Plumtree where he acquired a genuine driver’s licence that he is currently using.Prosecutor Mr David Manavele said Mandizvidza had no right whatsoever to act in the manner he did.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Govt ShortWave Radio On The Cards, To Counter Foreign Based Stations
Reporting by the Herald
Harare)
The government now has funding for a short-wave radio station that will counter foreign –based independent media such as Voice of America’s Studio 7 and SW Radio Africa, said Acting Minister of Information and Publicity Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said at a Parliamentary Portfolio Hearing on Transport and Communications.
Government, Mangwana said, had seen it fit to transfer the proposed New Ziana radio station that would be based in Gweru to ZBH.
He said funds had been availed for the shortwave radio station that
was meant to counter propaganda by hostile media organisations,
Studio 7 included, by telling the true Zimbabwean story.
There has been no change of Government policy in barring foreign
ownership of broadcasting licences in terms of the Broadcasting
Services Act, added Mangwana .
Mangwana told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport
and Communications that there appeared to be confusion on the
provisions of the Act pertaining to the restrictions on foreign funding.
The minister was presenting oral evidence on the state of the public media.
Mangwana said the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) had
made submissions to the Government in which it proposed some
amendments pertaining to the management of the Act.
"I told them (BAZ) that there was no change by the Government on
foreign ownership of licences. There has been some misunderstanding
in terms of the provisions on foreign funding," he said.
The Act, Mangwana said, prohibited foreign ownership of
broadcasting licences but did not restrict the borrowing of funds.
Mangwana said applications for private broadcasting licences that
had been lodged with BAZ in the past had been turned down because
they did not satisfy the provisions of the Act and this was mainly
due to ignorance on the part of the applicants.
Some applicants also did not disclose the source of funding as
stipulated in the Act. The minister said there was need for a public debate on the Act for a better understanding of its provisions.
Chairperson of the committee Leo Mugabe, who is Makonde lawmaker
(Zanu-PF), said the Act should be amended in order to create a
conducive environment as there were problems on its adjudication.
Mugabe said there was need for BAZ to advertise again for new
applications from prospective broadcasters.
In response, Mangwana said if Zimbabweans could invest in farming
and mining, they could also likewise invest in the broadcasting
sector without foreign funding.
He would liaise with BAZ on the issue of flighting advertisements
inviting broadcasting applicants.
Tsholotsho legislator Professor Jonathan Moyo said even if one were
to get a radio or television licence it would be impossible to
transmit due to the absence of transmitters.
Prof Moyo, who is the former Minister of Information and Publicity,
said it was prudent for private broadcasters to be allowed to provide
their own transmission equipment.
Mangwana said he would look into the issue of the possibility of
allowing private broadcasters to install their own transmitters.
Government, he said, had taken a number of steps in implementing
recommendations made by the committee in regard to the public media
and these included the restructuring of Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Holdings (ZBH) and New Ziana.
He said a new ZBH board was now in place while recruitment of the
group chief executive officer was underway.
Mangwana said ZBH was working towards digitalisation and
refurbishment of the four radio stations and negotiations on the
project with an Iran firm were at an advanced stage.
He assured the committee that there would be "minimum losses" of
employment resulting from the restructuring programme.
Turning to New Ziana, Mangwana said he would soon be announcing a
new board for the news agency.
He said the agency was strategic to the extent that it should
continue to receive Government grants until it was in a position to
sustain itself together with the Community Newspapers Group.
The minister also said the issue of Studio 7 broadcasting to Zimbabwe
from Botswana was being handled diplomatically through the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.
Commenting on the salaries of journalists, Cde Mangwana said there
was need for journalists to establish an employment council for the
media practitioners.
He said currently the collective bargaining process for journalists
was too fragmented and this was not healthy for the industry.
However, Cde Mangwana said, there had been an improvement in the
salaries of journalists at ZBH and New Ziana following the ministry's
intervention.
Harare Central lawmaker Mr Murisi Zwizwai (MDC) said despite the
review of the salaries, the remuneration for the media practitioners
was still inadequate.
"The salaries are still very low if one takes into consideration the
status they have in life. Even the dressing of those journalists who
are here do not reflect their proper image that they work for
reputable newspapers," he said.
Reporting by the Herald
Harare)
The government now has funding for a short-wave radio station that will counter foreign –based independent media such as Voice of America’s Studio 7 and SW Radio Africa, said Acting Minister of Information and Publicity Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said at a Parliamentary Portfolio Hearing on Transport and Communications.
Government, Mangwana said, had seen it fit to transfer the proposed New Ziana radio station that would be based in Gweru to ZBH.
He said funds had been availed for the shortwave radio station that
was meant to counter propaganda by hostile media organisations,
Studio 7 included, by telling the true Zimbabwean story.
There has been no change of Government policy in barring foreign
ownership of broadcasting licences in terms of the Broadcasting
Services Act, added Mangwana .
Mangwana told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport
and Communications that there appeared to be confusion on the
provisions of the Act pertaining to the restrictions on foreign funding.
The minister was presenting oral evidence on the state of the public media.
Mangwana said the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) had
made submissions to the Government in which it proposed some
amendments pertaining to the management of the Act.
"I told them (BAZ) that there was no change by the Government on
foreign ownership of licences. There has been some misunderstanding
in terms of the provisions on foreign funding," he said.
The Act, Mangwana said, prohibited foreign ownership of
broadcasting licences but did not restrict the borrowing of funds.
Mangwana said applications for private broadcasting licences that
had been lodged with BAZ in the past had been turned down because
they did not satisfy the provisions of the Act and this was mainly
due to ignorance on the part of the applicants.
Some applicants also did not disclose the source of funding as
stipulated in the Act. The minister said there was need for a public debate on the Act for a better understanding of its provisions.
Chairperson of the committee Leo Mugabe, who is Makonde lawmaker
(Zanu-PF), said the Act should be amended in order to create a
conducive environment as there were problems on its adjudication.
Mugabe said there was need for BAZ to advertise again for new
applications from prospective broadcasters.
In response, Mangwana said if Zimbabweans could invest in farming
and mining, they could also likewise invest in the broadcasting
sector without foreign funding.
He would liaise with BAZ on the issue of flighting advertisements
inviting broadcasting applicants.
Tsholotsho legislator Professor Jonathan Moyo said even if one were
to get a radio or television licence it would be impossible to
transmit due to the absence of transmitters.
Prof Moyo, who is the former Minister of Information and Publicity,
said it was prudent for private broadcasters to be allowed to provide
their own transmission equipment.
Mangwana said he would look into the issue of the possibility of
allowing private broadcasters to install their own transmitters.
Government, he said, had taken a number of steps in implementing
recommendations made by the committee in regard to the public media
and these included the restructuring of Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Holdings (ZBH) and New Ziana.
He said a new ZBH board was now in place while recruitment of the
group chief executive officer was underway.
Mangwana said ZBH was working towards digitalisation and
refurbishment of the four radio stations and negotiations on the
project with an Iran firm were at an advanced stage.
He assured the committee that there would be "minimum losses" of
employment resulting from the restructuring programme.
Turning to New Ziana, Mangwana said he would soon be announcing a
new board for the news agency.
He said the agency was strategic to the extent that it should
continue to receive Government grants until it was in a position to
sustain itself together with the Community Newspapers Group.
The minister also said the issue of Studio 7 broadcasting to Zimbabwe
from Botswana was being handled diplomatically through the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.
Commenting on the salaries of journalists, Cde Mangwana said there
was need for journalists to establish an employment council for the
media practitioners.
He said currently the collective bargaining process for journalists
was too fragmented and this was not healthy for the industry.
However, Cde Mangwana said, there had been an improvement in the
salaries of journalists at ZBH and New Ziana following the ministry's
intervention.
Harare Central lawmaker Mr Murisi Zwizwai (MDC) said despite the
review of the salaries, the remuneration for the media practitioners
was still inadequate.
"The salaries are still very low if one takes into consideration the
status they have in life. Even the dressing of those journalists who
are here do not reflect their proper image that they work for
reputable newspapers," he said.
Journalist And Politician Grace Kwinjeh Arrested
ZCTU/MDC Mass Action Arrest Update:
For journalists covering these events contact
Mlamuleli Sibanda at 263-(0)11-620 232 or info@zctu.co.zw
A number of members of the MDC National Executive have been arrested and taken to the Matapi Police Station in Mbare. They include the Deputy Foreign Secretary and journalist, Grace Kwinje and the Deputy Health Secretary, Kerry Kay. They say that many others are in detention and many have been severly beaten by the Police.
Fifeteen people were arrested, including the ZCTU Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe, President Lovemore Matombo arrested. They were assaulted during his arrest. There was heavy police presence in the city since morning. The march route was sealed. Last night 4 people were arrested. Zanu PF militia wearing party regalia moved from point to point intimidating people.
Chitungwiza: Heavy deployment of the army with tankers. 50 arrested including members of the Chitungwiza Residents Associationand the former Chitungwiza Mayor’s wife. All the 50 are in detention
Plumtree: Heavy Police presence Gwanda: Heavy Police presence
Hwange: Daniel Ncube taken for 4hrs being interrogated.
Bulawayo : About 20 people arrested, including regional Chairperson, Secretary, and organiser. Two people arrested yesterday and still at the Police.
Beitbridge: 3 people arrested.
Masvingo: No arrests so far. Mr. Gapare questioned by Masvingo Police. 15 Police Officers with button sticks, with
canisters and guns seal ZCTU Offices.
Mutare : 20 people arrested, 8 Police Officers surrounding the Mutare ZCTU Office with button sticks and canisters.
Ordinary citizens being bitten up
and situation tense.
Chinhoyi: 15 Workers arrested , Regional chairperson taken for 4hours interrogation. Regional Officer and three others
arrested yesterday and still in detention, including one who had brought food.
Kariba : Committee members intimidated by Police.
Gweru : 16 Arrested one arrested yesterday morning, released but recalled today.
Shurugwi : Executive members taken for interrogation.
Gokwe: Executive members taken for interrogation.
Kwekwe: Executive members taken for interrogation.
Chegutu: 15 Arrested two were picked for interrogation yesterday.
Information as of 15.30 Zimbabwean time 13/09/2006
ZCTU/MDC Mass Action Arrest Update:
For journalists covering these events contact
Mlamuleli Sibanda at 263-(0)11-620 232 or info@zctu.co.zw
A number of members of the MDC National Executive have been arrested and taken to the Matapi Police Station in Mbare. They include the Deputy Foreign Secretary and journalist, Grace Kwinje and the Deputy Health Secretary, Kerry Kay. They say that many others are in detention and many have been severly beaten by the Police.
Fifeteen people were arrested, including the ZCTU Secretary General Wellington Chibhebhe, President Lovemore Matombo arrested. They were assaulted during his arrest. There was heavy police presence in the city since morning. The march route was sealed. Last night 4 people were arrested. Zanu PF militia wearing party regalia moved from point to point intimidating people.
Chitungwiza: Heavy deployment of the army with tankers. 50 arrested including members of the Chitungwiza Residents Associationand the former Chitungwiza Mayor’s wife. All the 50 are in detention
Plumtree: Heavy Police presence Gwanda: Heavy Police presence
Hwange: Daniel Ncube taken for 4hrs being interrogated.
Bulawayo : About 20 people arrested, including regional Chairperson, Secretary, and organiser. Two people arrested yesterday and still at the Police.
Beitbridge: 3 people arrested.
Masvingo: No arrests so far. Mr. Gapare questioned by Masvingo Police. 15 Police Officers with button sticks, with
canisters and guns seal ZCTU Offices.
Mutare : 20 people arrested, 8 Police Officers surrounding the Mutare ZCTU Office with button sticks and canisters.
Ordinary citizens being bitten up
and situation tense.
Chinhoyi: 15 Workers arrested , Regional chairperson taken for 4hours interrogation. Regional Officer and three others
arrested yesterday and still in detention, including one who had brought food.
Kariba : Committee members intimidated by Police.
Gweru : 16 Arrested one arrested yesterday morning, released but recalled today.
Shurugwi : Executive members taken for interrogation.
Gokwe: Executive members taken for interrogation.
Kwekwe: Executive members taken for interrogation.
Chegutu: 15 Arrested two were picked for interrogation yesterday.
Information as of 15.30 Zimbabwean time 13/09/2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Zim Media Laws Spread To SADC???
Reporting by AND Network
South Africa
Media laws crafted by Zimbabwe's former minister of information, Professor Jonathan Moyo, have reportedly set a bad precedent for the SADC region as governments scramble to come up with equally stringent media laws.
South Africa is currently working on new media laws that media analysts are criticising as laws that have exactly the same parallel with those of Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe.At the behest of the then information minister, parliament hastily crafted media legislation and regulation bills that were fast tracked into Acts to thwart activities of the emerging vibrant privately-owned media.The government's worst adversary was The Daily News that was under the helm and the editorship of Geoff Nyarota who fell out of favour with the government pundits and heavyweights following his startling revelations of senior government officials in theWilllovale Scandal.The Broadcasting Services Act was enacted in 2000 with serious repercussions on who were the acceptable media players in the Zimbabwe media landscape.This was subsequently followed by the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (2002), which Eddison Zvobgo described as one of the calculated acts there designed to thwart personal liberties.The government of Zimbabwe justified these draconian pieces of legislation by saying that even world developed countries have media legislations in place.In similiar fashion the government of South Africa has tabled before its parliament an allegedly equally repulsive media bill that threatens to put a lot of restraints on the operations of media houses.Media analysts said what the South Africans fail to comprehend is that media laws in Zimbabwe were imposed as an attempt by the paranoic Mugabe to ward off any criticism that was likely to stem from the privately-owned media- hence decide to come up with media laws that would make it difficult for the private media to operate in the country.The agenda to kill a 'disseminating voice' was aided by the publicly-owned media which became part of the conspiracy and gave vast amounts of space to George Charamba to expound on government policy and defend legally invalid media laws.Questions were also raised as to the true authorship of the Nathaniel Manheru column which seemed to justify that anything was pro-government, with speculation that Jonathan Moyo was responsible for personally penning the column - a move that enabled him togain undeserved space to justify the hastily crafted media laws.
Reporting by AND Network
South Africa
Media laws crafted by Zimbabwe's former minister of information, Professor Jonathan Moyo, have reportedly set a bad precedent for the SADC region as governments scramble to come up with equally stringent media laws.
South Africa is currently working on new media laws that media analysts are criticising as laws that have exactly the same parallel with those of Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe.At the behest of the then information minister, parliament hastily crafted media legislation and regulation bills that were fast tracked into Acts to thwart activities of the emerging vibrant privately-owned media.The government's worst adversary was The Daily News that was under the helm and the editorship of Geoff Nyarota who fell out of favour with the government pundits and heavyweights following his startling revelations of senior government officials in theWilllovale Scandal.The Broadcasting Services Act was enacted in 2000 with serious repercussions on who were the acceptable media players in the Zimbabwe media landscape.This was subsequently followed by the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (2002), which Eddison Zvobgo described as one of the calculated acts there designed to thwart personal liberties.The government of Zimbabwe justified these draconian pieces of legislation by saying that even world developed countries have media legislations in place.In similiar fashion the government of South Africa has tabled before its parliament an allegedly equally repulsive media bill that threatens to put a lot of restraints on the operations of media houses.Media analysts said what the South Africans fail to comprehend is that media laws in Zimbabwe were imposed as an attempt by the paranoic Mugabe to ward off any criticism that was likely to stem from the privately-owned media- hence decide to come up with media laws that would make it difficult for the private media to operate in the country.The agenda to kill a 'disseminating voice' was aided by the publicly-owned media which became part of the conspiracy and gave vast amounts of space to George Charamba to expound on government policy and defend legally invalid media laws.Questions were also raised as to the true authorship of the Nathaniel Manheru column which seemed to justify that anything was pro-government, with speculation that Jonathan Moyo was responsible for personally penning the column - a move that enabled him togain undeserved space to justify the hastily crafted media laws.
Tsvangirai’s Message On The Eve Of ZCTU Action
Warning of Brutal Response by Govt
Harare
Zimbabwean workers have a right to demonstrate and express themselves. In a situation where their condition and the costof living continue to sky-rocket, the people have to exercise their democratic right to show their displeasure, suggest solutions and confront what is before them.
However, information reaching the MDC indicates that the regime wishes to suppress the planned demonstrations through brutality, massive arrests and state-sponsored violence. May I take this opportunity to warn Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe against making such a move? Any attempt to turn peaceful workers’ marches into chaotic scenes is counter-productive and unfortunate. For the past six months, we have openly advised the Mugabe regime that we are organizing mass protests as part of our comprehensive program of democratic resistance. Since the ZCTU action is driven by the people and is a people’s
project to address an obvious national grievance, the MDC is fully behind such an effort. Disrupting the planned action shall invite the ire of the party and generate the requisite response.
Come out in your millions and show the regime that you have had enough. We maintain that Zanu PF and Mugabe must be forced to negotiate Zimbabwe out of the national crisis. Already, we have put forward our suggestions on how to save our country and to start afresh. Our roadmap to legitimacy has what we believe are the necessary signposts to rebuild the people’s confidence to pull Zimbabwe out of the woods.
In any society, responsible stakeholders have a duty and a responsibility to proffer suggestions for change and to act, using universal habits of citizenship, to remedy an already deteriorating political, social and economic situation. I wish to congratulate the ZCTU and the entire civil society for their initiative and to inform them that as a political party we are fully behind their efforts. Nothing will stop the people from exercising their generic right to express themselves.
On our part, we remain on course. Our preparations for sustained resistance are complete. We are ready to roll-out our program. We are watching the regime’s response to the ZCTU action with a keen interest.
Lastly, may I appeal to the church and the business community to work with us to save our country from the current uncertainty? May I extend the same plea to our security forces to refrain from acts that shall put them on a collision course with the people?
We respect the Constitutional and professional mandate of our security forces to protect the people and we look forward to working with you in this regard. We harbor no grievances against you. What we face is crisis of governance, initiated and perpetuated by Zanu PF, a failed political party. Resist abuse. Stay out of party politics.
Morgan Tsvangirai,
President.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Mangwana Blasts Zimbo Journalists
Reporting by SAPA/DPA
South Africa
Journalists in Zimbabwe are working
undercover to advance Western interests and
denigrate President Robert Mugabe’s government,
the acting minister of information was quoted as saying Monday.
Paul Mangwana said some reporters had dedicated
their careers to working with Zimbabwe’s enemies
to bring about regime change, the official Herald newspaper reported.
Mangwana described those journalists as “willing
soldiers in a war that is not theirs.”
Mugabe’s government and reporters for the private
and international media have long had strained
relations, which sunk to new lows under the iron
rule of former information minister Jonathan Moyo.
In 2002, Moyo managed to bring in tough press
laws known as the Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), that made it a
crime to operate as an unlicensed reporter or to
report anything deemed a falsehood.
Under AIPPA, dozens of reporters have been
arrested, several foreign correspondents
deported, and four private newspapers closed.
Mangwana has been acting information minister
since the death of Moyo’s successor, Tichaona Jokonya earlier this year.
The minister said reporters should report as
patriotic Zimbabweans, the Herald said.
Reporting by SAPA/DPA
South Africa
Journalists in Zimbabwe are working
undercover to advance Western interests and
denigrate President Robert Mugabe’s government,
the acting minister of information was quoted as saying Monday.
Paul Mangwana said some reporters had dedicated
their careers to working with Zimbabwe’s enemies
to bring about regime change, the official Herald newspaper reported.
Mangwana described those journalists as “willing
soldiers in a war that is not theirs.”
Mugabe’s government and reporters for the private
and international media have long had strained
relations, which sunk to new lows under the iron
rule of former information minister Jonathan Moyo.
In 2002, Moyo managed to bring in tough press
laws known as the Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), that made it a
crime to operate as an unlicensed reporter or to
report anything deemed a falsehood.
Under AIPPA, dozens of reporters have been
arrested, several foreign correspondents
deported, and four private newspapers closed.
Mangwana has been acting information minister
since the death of Moyo’s successor, Tichaona Jokonya earlier this year.
The minister said reporters should report as
patriotic Zimbabweans, the Herald said.
Parliament Lambasts Media
Reporting by the Herald
Harare
PARLIAMENT expects the media to report objectively and will not allow some sections of the Press to use the institution to further their ulterior motives, Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma said.
Mr Zvoma told journalists that the media had an obligation to report accurately and honestly.
Parliament, he said, had noted with concern that some sections of the media were in the habit of distorting information.
Mr Zvoma cited the lead story in the weekly Zimbabwe Independent of August 25 alleging that Finance Minister Cde Herbert Murerwa had told a parliamentary portfolio committee that the three zeros removed from the old bearer cheques might be back by December.
In the story headlined "Zeros back by December -- Murerwa", the newspaper alleged that Cde Murerwa had told the Committee on Budget and Finance that there was no guarantee that the zeros would not be back on the new bearer cheques by December due to low production and hyper-inflation.
Mr Zvoma said he had listened to the tapes that were recorded during the committee's proceedings and there were no such utterances by the minister as alleged by the Zimbabwe Independent.
"It will be irresponsible for us to create the platform for those who want to pursue their own agenda.
"When a story is not factual, then it desists from informing the public," he said.
The committee would also table its report in the House, highlighting what transpired during the proceedings.
Asked as to whether any action would be taken against the Zimbabwe Independent, Mr Zvoma said Parliament expected the newspaper to make a correction of the story.
He said the House had the power to bar reporters or media organisations that distorted information on parliamentary proceedings but this was not the best solution in a democratic society.
It was important, Mr Zvoma said, for the media to note that covering Parliament was not a right but a privilege, hence such privilege must not be abused.
He said inaccurate coverage of parliamentary issues posed the risk of undermining the parliamentary reforms that had resulted in the opening of committee meetings to the media and the public.
However, Mr Zvoma said despite a few isolated cases, the majority of the media organisations were covering Parliament fairly and accurately.
The House of Assembly has been adjourned to September 19.
Acting Leader of the House Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa told members that this was meant to give portfolio committees sufficient time to scrutinise Bills tabled in Parliament.
Reporting by the Herald
Harare
PARLIAMENT expects the media to report objectively and will not allow some sections of the Press to use the institution to further their ulterior motives, Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma said.
Mr Zvoma told journalists that the media had an obligation to report accurately and honestly.
Parliament, he said, had noted with concern that some sections of the media were in the habit of distorting information.
Mr Zvoma cited the lead story in the weekly Zimbabwe Independent of August 25 alleging that Finance Minister Cde Herbert Murerwa had told a parliamentary portfolio committee that the three zeros removed from the old bearer cheques might be back by December.
In the story headlined "Zeros back by December -- Murerwa", the newspaper alleged that Cde Murerwa had told the Committee on Budget and Finance that there was no guarantee that the zeros would not be back on the new bearer cheques by December due to low production and hyper-inflation.
Mr Zvoma said he had listened to the tapes that were recorded during the committee's proceedings and there were no such utterances by the minister as alleged by the Zimbabwe Independent.
"It will be irresponsible for us to create the platform for those who want to pursue their own agenda.
"When a story is not factual, then it desists from informing the public," he said.
The committee would also table its report in the House, highlighting what transpired during the proceedings.
Asked as to whether any action would be taken against the Zimbabwe Independent, Mr Zvoma said Parliament expected the newspaper to make a correction of the story.
He said the House had the power to bar reporters or media organisations that distorted information on parliamentary proceedings but this was not the best solution in a democratic society.
It was important, Mr Zvoma said, for the media to note that covering Parliament was not a right but a privilege, hence such privilege must not be abused.
He said inaccurate coverage of parliamentary issues posed the risk of undermining the parliamentary reforms that had resulted in the opening of committee meetings to the media and the public.
However, Mr Zvoma said despite a few isolated cases, the majority of the media organisations were covering Parliament fairly and accurately.
The House of Assembly has been adjourned to September 19.
Acting Leader of the House Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa told members that this was meant to give portfolio committees sufficient time to scrutinise Bills tabled in Parliament.
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