Attack Journalism order of the day in Zim

Zimbabwean kind of Journalism seems to be swaying from the track. Reporters are no longer independent, objective, true and even balanced.

Adverse political environment has even polarised the media terrain where the media is no longer serving the public but political parties. This is evident on the nature of reporting mainly between state media and the independent media.

State media seems to be pro ZANU PF whereas the independent media is pro MDC-T. The fact that the media has aligned itself to politics has lost professional journalistic manner of reporting which is fashioned by fairness, truth and objectivity.

Recently, independent media has been selling its paper on the streets with the headlines “Mugabe on a death bed”. However, the president has arrived home still being “Gushungo”. People deserve to know the truth.

Media as a fourth estate monitors the power bloc on behalf of the public. The public puts its trust upon the media. However, in relation to this kind of a story the public is likely to be a victim of the law. People can talk about such matters publicly which then might lead to their criminalisation regarding that freedom of speech and expression is only in black and white.

On the other hand the state media also seems to be biting the Prime minister. This was observed when Prime minister immersed himself in love affairs complications. The state media was sensationalising and romanticising the issue. The real reliable kind of journalism is vanishing. The media are no longer objective but rather attacking and biting people.

       

Daily News under spot light

Aggressive, shameless lady rocked the Daily News offices yesterday in the name of ZANU PF and President (Daily News 14 April 2012).

Woman identified by the name Sweswe, “intruded” into Daily news offices after deceiving the security that she has a scoop that she has to deliver to the reporters. Upon arrival to the newsroom she unleashed violence, shouting to the reporters, insulting everyone in the area.

She claimed to be closely linked to the “White House” and even to some  ZANU PF ministers whom she implicated are at the centre of the chaos. She accused the paper of negatively reporting about the President’s alleged illness and selling the country and promoting the gay rights.

Nature of threats revealed
·         Bombing the company
·         Beating the journalists in front of their wives
·         Killing the journalists
·         Banning of the paper
·         Mbare “mafia” to unleash terror to the company
·         Acting on behalf of the President and even some prominent ministers
·         “Exclusively”  terrorise Chris Goko and Wonai Masvingise

 The shameless lady went on to undress herself and urinate in the newsroom in the midst of man. The funny party is that she is accusing the paper for supporting homosexuality of which her behaviour is profoundly “un African”. Such behaviour is unleashed by people whose morals have decayed.

The disturbing issue is that the lady is threating the paper in the name of ZANU PF and the respected President Mugabe. Even if she has been “sent” by the party and the President but her conduct in the newsroom has lowered President status and left the party subject to various connotations. Person from the state house has to legimitise everything not to be "bushy" in conduct.

Even though the staffers claim to be brave and will continue telling the truth like it is, however, such intimidations are uncalled for as they grossly violate the freedom of disseminating, receiving and imparting information.

Arrests to discourage MDC-T

Prime Minister’s chief of protocol, Abisha Nyaguwo was has been arrested following the allegations of bombing ZANU PF offices in Gweru.

Nyaguwo is alleged that some time last year in December he dropped some explosives in ZANU PF offices before driving off speeding. It is alleged that the property lost costs $900.

It is a recommendable stance for the violence perpetuators to face the reality of law and justice. However, at times the genuineness of the law is subject to criticism as some people are arrested and detained without any substantial proof presented. The move is meant to frustrate MDC-T which seems to be a threat to ZANU PF.

To support this sometime last month police where on Prime Minister’s pocket probing the issue of his asserts.

This is meant to frustrate MDC-T party as the party is being dragged to elections by the President Robert Mugabe without consensus.    

 

Church and the politics

Church in the past has been kept at the back when it came to the fundamental matters affecting the society. However, at this age there has been reciprocation where we see the church defining the politics of the day.
The change has been enhanced by the rise of the Mighty men of God particularly in Africa. These include Prophet TB Joshua from Nigeria, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and Prophet Angels from Zimbabwe.

The prophetic anointing they have propels them to speak on the future political terrain of a particular country. This has been regular with Prophet TB Joshua who has pulled renowned political figures globally to his church. Prophet TB Joshua has prophesied about the death of various political leaders in the globe. Currently he prophesied about the death of Bingu wa Mthalika, Malawian President. This makes the church to gain respect from the political discipline.

A close relationship between the church and the politics may to a larger degree help in the minimisation of the violation of human rights by the governments. Currently Prophet Makandiwa has prophesied about the chaos that is likely to arise in Zimbabwe but he urged the bigwigs to repent. In the past voice of the church has been silenced and even manipulated because the impact of the church in country’s developments has been subtle.

Analysing the current trends, the church in future is likely to have a gross impact on the choosing selection of the political leaders. Joyce Banda who has taken over in Malawi is said to have been spending bulk of the time at Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Our Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai is said to have visited the SCOAN.        

Courtesy of th.iblog.co.zw President Robert Mugabe

He is Alive and Well

The international media has embarked on disseminating fabricated information as highlighted by Webster Shamu pertaining the state of health of the President Robert Mugabe.

There are wide spread reports that President Robert Mugabe is battling for his life in Singapore. The state security minister Sydney Sekeramayi has castigated the rumours indicating that the President is alive and health. Instead the President went to Singapore for medical check-up only (Newsday 11/04/2012).  

Some of the independent papers have been good in blowing the stories out of proportion which the President is at centre of the storm. Sometime last month (March) and early April this year the renowned and reliable Prophet of God TB Joshua told the world that one of the African leaders was to be a victim of sudden death due to illness. The Prophet never mentioned the name of the leader. However, the international and some of the independent papers implicated President Robert Mugabe.

People are being criminalised of physically killing people. However, the international media in particular has killed and buried President Robert Mugabe. This reflects that media in the age is no longer objective but is rather thriving on attack kind of a journalism.
From the nature of reporting, the international media wishes that President Mugabe be on the receiving end. The international community can impose sanctions and cripple our economy but it cannot put a stamp on the life of His Excellency as God is in charge of everything.   

     

Death Sentence, human Rights Abuse

In the constitution making process there are some issues that are pending. Death sentence is one of the issues that need to be addressed.

 Zimbabwe is one of the signatories of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and even the African Charter of Human Rights. However, the disturbing issue is that the country is still subscribing to death penalty which then parallels with these two “treaties”.

Section 12 of the Zimbabwean constitution supports capital punishment; “it shall be lawful for a person to be killed following a death sentence imposed by the court. 

·         Universal declaration of Human Rights states that no one shall be subjected to cruel or degrading punishment.

·         Article 6 of international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that no one shall be arbitrary deprived of his life.

·         Article 7 of the (ICCPR) states that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Zimbabwe globally is one of the few countries that is still observing death penalty.  In the constitution making process drafters have suppress this law that violates fundamental human rights of life.

To prove the cruelty of the law, this post in Zimbabwe (for hanging) was unoccupied for more than five years.

Every human being has the right to life despite the degree and nature of the crime. Death sentence should be substituted with life sentence.

There are various types of execution methods that are used in different countries globally;
v  Stoning
v  Hanging 
v  Gas chambers
v  Electrocution
v  Lethal injection

 The Sunday Mail (15-21/01/2012) reveals that according to Amnesty International, more than 139 countries have abolished death penalty but Zimbabwe is still recognising it (death penalty) as a form of governance.

Democracy still a pipe Dream in Zim

Conviction of six activists and the court charges has reflected Zimbabwe’s reluctance in the realization and implementation of democracy.

Gwisayi, the Law lecturer at University of Zimbabwe and other five were convicted and found guilty for watching videos of Egypt and Tunisia uprisings. The six are said to have been plotting an uprising against the regime of President Robert Mugabe (Newsday 21/03/2012).

The most disturbing thing is that these were convicted mainly for watching a video. This reflects lack of democracy. Under rational circumstances such videos are not  a problem since they educate the masses on human rights abuses.

To make matters worse these videos are everywhere in the world; they are found on the internet, YouTube, DVDs. If the government is really serious about suppressing these videos firstly it has to censor internet, conduct a national door by door search for these videos.

Obvious this is not feasible, in other words the action is really tantamount to the gross violation of human rights as the Prime Minister concurred in Newsday (21/032012).

If the government is really serious about the issue it has even to barn some of the DVDs or any materials that exhibits violence/ Human rights abuses like in films. I do believe if these guys were really serious about toppling the regime of President Mugabe they could have even used an ordinary street movie. This really shows that our political terrain is really rigid.  

Picture courtesy of Newsday

Arrests likely to Cost MDC

Some of the MDC –T members have been the victims of arbitrary arrests in relation to the bombings of ZANU-PF offices in Gweru (Newsday/23/2012).  Police heavily descended on Abisha Nyanguwo, the MDC chief staff yesterday in connection with the bombings of ZANU PF offices which happened some time in December last year. Police exercised their authority to an extent of impounding Isuzu car of Nyanguwo after a thorough search of his house.

Three members of the MDC-T party were also arrested early this year in connection with the bombings of the ZANU PF offices.

Nyanguwo was being suspected to have been hiding weapons. The arrests are likely to tarnish the image of the party. Public trust and faith on MDC is likely to fade away considering the arrests of its key members. The arrests portray the party as a party that is corrupt, dominated of incompetent selfish members.

The most critical issue for one to take note of is that the arrests are happening at a time when the President is calling for the elections. This is likely to demotivate some of the members , even the local and global the party will be portrayed as a party that lacks transparency and accountability.

Chiefs Demanding More

The co- Minister of The National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration has castigated the extended privileges the government is providing to the chiefs. The minister’s concern is that the privileges offered to the chiefs “isolates” them from their people. (Newsday 17/03/2012).

Chiefs are on record demanding luxurious cars, houses, guns. Minister then condemns the development claiming that chiefs will always have their external agendas as they will be moving up and down therefore deserting their people.  In such an environment development is not feasible.

However these developments have great impact on the Zimbabwean political terrain. The government seems to be so much concerned about the plight of the chiefs. This might be a disguise strategy by the ZANU PF to gain popularity. These developments occur in a period when the President Robert Mugabe is calling for elections and the party’s popularity seem to be fading away. Chiefs has one point in time condemned for being partisan which the largely affected the lives of the people in communities especially during election periods.

One of the troubling issues is that the government is empowering the people who already “resource” leaving the poor to sink deep into poverty.   

Mugabe and Tswangirai (google images)

MDC-T another form of ZANU-PF

MDC-T has been portrayed as the pro-democratic party both locally and internationally. From the face value it seems as if there is a demarcating boundary between ZANU_PF and MDC-T. MDC is ZANU-PF in new face (old wine in new skins). ZANU-PF has been portrayed as Human Rights abuser party however; this is one of the characteristics of MDC-T.

ZANU-PF is said to be corrupt, squandering state finances, “bloody party”. However, this is the real character of MDC.                                                     

§  MDC is advocating for the constitutionalisation of homosexuals of which the majority of Zimbabweans are not compatible with it. Therefore if the MDC fails to realize the cahiers of the majority then whose interest is it serving? By this it becomes a dictator.

§  MDC seem to be much more concerned about the plight of the Westerns at the expense of the locals. The party is always thrashing Land Reform programme and indigenisation terming it a ZANU PF beneficiary project.

§  Mini-war that broke in Chitungwidza was fuelled by both the parties (ZANU PF and MDC youths. However when being reported it appears as if ZANU-PF was causing chaos alone.

§  Corruption is haunting both the parties. Prime Minister is being implicated in relation to his new mansion. In ZANU-PF, Chombo is looting like no man’s business.

§  Both the parties are extravagant (spending sprees). President Robert Mugabe often flies to China and Singapore for medication. In MDC, Prime Minister often visits his “masters” in Britain, USA.

§  MDC hail sanctions. It’s comfortable to see Zimbabweans suffering. The idea might be of fixing the oppositional party but the “innocent” people always at the receiving end.

The bottom line is that MDC is not absolutely democratic and at the same time is not moving for the democratic change rather inheriting monopolistic strategies from ZANU PF

ZAPU's logo (google images)

ZAPU’S Relevance Declining In The Political Terrain

ZAPU has been quite for so long in the political in the political terrain of Zimbabwe. Its impact is gradually diminishing its relevancy slightly vanishing.

ZAPU was formed by the late renowned, decorated, inspirational, motivational, charismatic and prominent figure, Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo. The party’s propagation was thwarted by the rigid Zimbabwean political terrain which lastly deposited the colourful figure (Mqabuko) to ZANU-PF leading to the death of the party.

In 2007 towards elections the party came back to life being revamped by the prodigal son, Dumiso Dabengwa who by then seem to be young and energetic. After it was outperformed by ZANU PF and MDC in 2008 elections its impact drastically dropped.

Other political parties seem to be voicing much on the current Zimbabwean issues which include constitution making process (ruling terms, gay rights, power devolution). The oppositional parties seem to be holding “bulldozing” campaigns prior to “elections” but it is silent as if nothing is happening.

There are developments within the party which demands the President Dumiso Dabengwa to step down as he is urging and his impact and relevancy in the political field is redundant.

Some ZAPU supporters owe the party’s incompetence to;
v  Poor media portrayal of the party.
v  Lack of proper representation and coverage of the party by the media
v  Lack of resources in terms of finances and “relevant” members
v  Naturally the party is becoming a defeatist.

Other Hot issues
What is the implication of the Ghadiffi’s gown given to Mugabe
Does Mugabe still have friends considering that he is “cold shouldering” Zuma and critising SADC. 

Savious Kasuwukere indigenisation Minister

Indigenization a political weapon

Indigenization process has been thrashed by various foreign investors. In the general sense, indigenisation is not meant to deprive someone. Its core role is to bring about balance through empowering the locals and presenting the opportunities regardless of political affiliation, race, tribe and gender.

Morgan Tsvangirai has also lambasted the indigenisation scheme (Daily News 03/03/2012) claiming that the local investors do not have resources to buy the equity existing.

In the Zimbabwean context indigenization has been manipulated to be a political weapon instead of economic weapon. More so its implementation has been said to be “ambiguous” and extreme.
The scheme in black and white is meant to benefit the indigenous people from an individual level up to an international level. However, this is not what is on the ground as there is massive grabbing of firm, farms which previously vitalised our economic terrain. Indigenisation was one of the President’s achievements (Meikles, Zimplats) but the problem is that a handful of people are enjoying the fruits.

Considering its implementation, economic indigenisation has been a curse rather than a blessing in Zimbabwe. After its implementation (2000s) there was a drastic fall in the economic sector which was fashioned by high inflation, unemployment, heavy beatings and illegal seizing of resources. It has derailed exponential economic recovery and growth. Commercial farms were grabbed and now they have been segmented to an extent that one can hardly send a bag of maize to GMB. In companies, nepotism is the order of the day.

Zambian President Michael Sata (google images)

African Re-colonisation Inevitable

Western countries specifically USA and Britain seem to be setting the tone and the agenda for an African child which then makes African autonomy to be compromised. This comes after David Cameron last year claimed that he will withhold aid from those countries that are failing accept homosexuals’ human rights.

This has recently forced Zambia to accept homosexuals (Daily news 28/02/2012). Sometime last year Cameroon withdrew financial aid from Malawi amounting to $30 million after the country detained a couple of gays. Cameroon to these countries seem to be holding keys of development.   

It becomes a thorn in the flesh to the African political heroes like President Mugabe who is currently surrounded by the gay community, neighbours, friends and enemies. South Africa has already constitutionalised homosexuality; Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (political rivalry) is also on record advocating for the constitutionalisation of homosexuality and now again Sata who seem to “tied” with President Mugabe has also allowed homos.

It’s hard for the president to understand this who is on record announcing that Zimbabwe will never be a colony again and even encouraging some of the African leaders to adhere to their principles despite of their economic status.

One of the things that African leaders are oblivion of , is the fact the power to denounce and announce re-colonisation lies upon them. During his birthday, President Mugabe vowed that he will never bow down before Sarkozy, David Cameroon and even Obama. President reiterated that once a leader bows down before the western countries automatically his people do the same.

The Clause Devastates Plans

GPA Principals(google images)

If the constitution making process will end with the incoperation of the clause 642,(Newsday 24/02/2012) the head of the state will be automatically be thrown into the political dustbins. The move that has been taken by the COPAC in the restoration of the clause can be viewed as an attempt to "fix" the head of the state.

An attempt might bring total transformation in the Zimbabwean political terrain. However, if the clause is being revised so as to fix one person in the political landscape this renders it biased.

One of the troubling issues is that the clause was proposed by the drafters not the public. The action then parallels with principles of the constitution making process which states that it has to be a people driven constitution not a stratified population driven policy.

President Robert Mugabe has been on power for almost three decades and there has been no aggressive competitor on the political terrain who has attemted to stamina him apart from MDC. MDC-T has been the only political party that seems to be posing  threat on the regime of the President Robert Mugabe. However, attempts by the political parties to ouster the political guru has been futile as there has been perpetual application of  coercion to garner political mileage. For example in 2008 PM Tsvangirai withdrew from election track after there was heavy flogging of the MDC-T supporters and the civilians.

Conventional means to stamina the President have been redundant. This has forced the oppositional parties to come up with  "noble legitimate" strategies, clause 642 is one of the tactics. The clause actually bans presidential candidate to serve for more than  two five-year terms. If this materialises before elections, President Robert Mugabe wont contest for the next upcoming elections. 

President Mugabe with the loyalists (google pictures)

Monopolisation policy threatens Zim- politics

Zimbabwe is cordially celebrating with President Robert Mugabe who reached 88 on the 21^st of February this month. However, the political terrain seems to be shaky as the old man exhibits no signs of evacuating the office despite the fact that he is “grossly” ageing.

For this week private papers have been covering the statements that have been concurred by the president claiming that he is still young and energetic and he sees no reason for resigning, it’s too early for him to take such decisions.

One of the disturbing issues is that president has claimed his son Bellarmine Chatunga harbours presidential ambitions (Newsday 23/02/2012). Even though the Chatunga is eying for the presidential position it has been argued that he can’t make it as the age gap will be a barrier. Apart from this it seems it is the president’s wish that the political terrain be dominated by the family members as one point in time it has been recorded that the family had three MPs (Sabina(Mugabe’s sister),and her sons Leo Mugabe and Patric Zhuwawo).

It seems it’s the norm in Africa that the leaders appoint their sons.

·         In 2009, Ali Bongo was sworn in as the President after the death of his father Omar.

·         Gaddafi too had spotted his son Seif-Ali to take over.

·         Hosni Mubarak too, had the intentions of surrendering “Kingdom” to his son, Gammal

·         In Cameroon, Paul Biya who has been in power for almost 3 decades has made his eldest son Franck , his special advisor.(Newsday 23/02/2012)

However, this seems to be a threat in the African politics as a whole and Zimbabwe specifically as monarch systems are out of touch in the contemporary society.

Western countries failing to live the talk

France president Nicolas Sarkozy(blog.wblackegray.com)

Western countries declared themselves the first world , that is setting the agenda and the most democratic "world" in the globe. From their pride perspective point of view( western countries) they have labelled Africa the continent of disorder, corruption,violation of the human rights and dominated by the "worst dictators ".

However a cloud of shame has fallen upon them after Nicolas Sarkozy declared the re-election bid.The "democratic" leader rose into power on 16 may 2007. However, since his ascension France has gradually been hit by the economic melt down. According to France 24, Nicolas has been accused for squandering public funds in his fruitless political campaigns.Francois Hollande who is also the candidate revealed that the president candidate was already known (five years back) . The incumbent is fighting to run for the second term up coming presidential elections even though he is gradually sliding to the political dustbins.

The impact of Sarkozy stance seem to be less just because the incident has happened in the West . The story is not glamorised ,sensationalised neither trivialised like what the global media does when reporting on African issues. This piece seek to support the last posted story which was hammering that there is no direct democracy which is always claimed by the Western countries.
      

The Other Face Of Robert Mugabe

His Excellency Robert Gabriel Mugabe (str8talkchronicle.com)

It has been globally accepted that the regime of the President is "iron fisted". This ideology has been mainly reinforced by the so called local private media and even the international media that continue bombarding people with sensationalised political stories. This piece doesn’t discard that truth do exist in those stories.

However, after putting the journalistic lens of objectivity and balance there is a lot that the international community has to be aware concerning Mugabe. His image in the global community has been blurred not just because he is a failure but the comrades insulating him are “lost” in corruption and has pressurised him to assume irrelevant decisions.

Mugabe has been painted undemocratic, seldom the media zoom in his other face.

He empowered black people through

• land reform programme
• indegenization

Ideally, black empowerment is the greatest achievement however,  its implementation is ambiguous.

Moral conservation –He has often lambasted the universalization of the moral panic syndrome that has already engulfed Western  countries . He is impermeating the constitutionalization of homosexuality and bestiality. By realizing the African traditional values and morals and “killing” the western influence – International community has took a massive ride on this and labelled him an extremist. We do realize that to some extent  human rights have been violated( Gukurahundi) but this doesn’t disqualify him in the “holy book”.

He has been labelled “undemocratic”. I beg to differ to some stance. The local private media is myopia of the fact that democracy is in two classes;

1)Representative democracy                                                                                                                  2)Direct democracy

Direct democracy is not feasible. All the countries globally are perambulating within the parameters of representative democracy . The difference is on the level of democracy in the representative democracy

NB (The blogger is not a ZANU PF sympathiser rather a rational “armchair” critique).

                                                                                                                                               

Zim Politics Thwarts Development

Development of underdevelopment in Zimbabwe is largely attributed to the rugged political terrain. The need to  maintain political dominance and vibrancy has forced the government to engage on the military investment at the expense of the public plight.

Reflecting on the 2008 era which was characterised by harmonised elections, violence,hyper-inflation and hunger, the government 'piped' some funds to the military which could have been used to improve people's welfare. Weapons were imported from China via South Africa. A number of African countries have been mainly criticised for investing in the military ignoring the people's fundamental rights. Egypt is one the classic examples.

Underdevelopment in Zimbabwe is also caused by the extreme link that exists between politicts and the economics.Economic development of the country is determined by the nature of the politics. In an environment like this development is seldom. Considering the political environment of Libyia, its economiy was vibrant despite the unstableness in the country.

Minister of finance once lambasted the kind of relationship that exists between the politics and the economic. He highlighted that any shake in the politics direct and immediatetly affects the economy.

''We have not de-linked our politics from the economy so much that when the politics sneezes,the economy does not only catch a cold but goes straight into intensive care'' . He concurred.

In October 2009 MDC-T threatened to pull out of the Government of the National Unity(GNU) ,Zim Stock Exchange bencmark fell by 15 percent in a week. Mining index fell by 22 percent , market capitalization lost  11 percent of its value. (Newsday 19/01/2012)