Source: Mnangagwa’s private press ban tragic – DailyNews Live
7 October 2017
HARARE – Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa barred several private news
organisations from an on-camera press briefing on Thursday night,
handpicking a select group of State media reporters that he perceives to
be friendly towards him.
The “gaggle” with the VP then took place before only a pool of State media
journalists.
Outlets seeking to gain entry whose requests were denied included the
Daily News and other private media. State publications such as the The
Herald, The Sunday Mail, the State TV, ZBC, and State news agency Ziana,
were allowed into the meeting.
It is highly unusual for Munhumutapa to cherry-pick which media outlets
can participate in what would have otherwise been the presidency’s
briefing. The briefing was obviously indispensable for journalists trying
to interpret the often contradictory statements coming out of the
administration, over the VP’s poisoning saga.
The move by Mnangagwa and his Press team is a deeply troubling and
divisive act. We have vigorously rejected media polarisation, which is
clearly being formented by the VP, who should know better.
Holding power to account is an essential part of the democratic process,
and that’s exactly what the Daily News will continue to do.
We would like to protest strongly against Mnangagwa’s action. Free media
access to a transparent government is obviously of crucial national
interest.
This is an unacceptable development by Mnangagwa’s Press team.
Apparently, it seems this is how the VP retaliates when we report facts he
doesn’t like. But rest assured, we will keep reporting regardless. The
public should have as much access to the VP as possible.
Our reporters lingered in the VP office’s hallway out of frustration as
the press briefing was underway.
There was a silver lining though. The State media organisations that were
allowed in shared the material with others in the private press corps who
were not. We are heartened that some State media journalists stood with us
when Mnangagwa’s team tried to exclude us. A Munhumutapa gaggle should be
open to all credentialed journalists holding a Zimbabwe Media Commission
Press card.
Nothing like this has ever happened in our long history of covering events
at Munhumutapa – the citadel of government power. Our reporting will
remain fair and impartial regardless.
While we strongly object to the VP’s apparent attempt to punish news
outlets whose coverage he does not like, we won’t let these latest antics
distract us from the work of continuing to cover this administration
fairly and aggressively.
The Daily News has a representative at regular Munhumutapa briefings, so
we are not clear why we were barred from Thursday’s.
We will seek clarification from Media, Information and Broadcasting
Services minister Chris Mushohwe and the Munhumutapa Press team led by
George Charamba. We know these two gentleman do not support this kind of
media tyranny being exhibited by the VP’s team.
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