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.