via Bhasikiti bans media from visiting Chingwizi camp | SW Radio Africa by Mthulisi Mathuthu on Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, has banned journalists from visiting the Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims, accusing the media of falsifying the villagers’ situation.
A few months ago Bhasikiti also barred former Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai from visiting the Chingwizi camp where he hoped to donate to the flood victims.
Last week Bhasikiti told journalists who had called at his office en route to the Chingwizi camp, that they were not welcome to the flood victims’ temporary settlement.
Bhasikiti accused journalists of ‘mischief’ and of ‘scandalous’ coverage of the Tokwe-Mukosi floods. According to newzimbabwe.com, Bhasikiti said the story of the floods has been ‘reported enough’ and journalists should contact his press department for ‘guided tours’.
Among the banned crew were journalists from the state media, officers from the Zimbabwe National Council for Welfare of Children and some children who wanted to donate goods to fellow youngsters at Chingwizi.
But Bhasikiti grabbed the donations claiming he would pass them on to the victims himself.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists Secretary General Forster Dongozi said the ban on journalists was ‘wrong.’ He added: ‘It is bad for a government minister and a Zimbabwean for that matter to bar journalists from highlighting the plight of fellow Zimbabweans.’
Dongozi said the ban was ‘unnecessary’ especially coming after government declared the Tokwe-Mukosi situation a national disaster. He added: ‘In a disaster situation everybody’s contribution is critical and so as journalists we contribute in our own way like the politicians contribute in their own way.’
More than 3,000 people were relocated to the Chingwizi camp following flooding after heavy rains and fears that the Tokwe-Mukosi dam wall could collapse.
The ban on the media follows many negative stories about the government’s involvement with the victims. Two weeks ago 10 ZANU PF ministers were booed when they tried to persuade the villagers to relocate to a permanent settlement. The villagers are demanding compensation before relocation.
Fears that ZANU PF had ulterior motives about the Tokwe-Mukosi situation were confirmed a few weeks ago when a leading human rights group said there were plans to use to victims as cheap labor. Human Rights Watch suggested that ZANU PF could be planning to use the villagers as cheap labor at a sugar cane farm and ethanol project, which the party co-owns with a controversial businessman Billy Rautenbach.
COMMENTS
Any comments from Moyo? Eat my foot Zanu. The more they stay the same.
Ah, ah, ah, in Syria, Serbia (where it’s flooding now), Nigeria, Boko Haram….everything is being reported on, where are we going now Zimbabwe
No ruthlessness worse than one Black man visits on another Black man. Black leadership hates Black people. They will rule against your will .They kill Black people for decenting.They will muzzle Black people. They will send other Black people called Police to kick the gonads of other Black people.There is no hiding from Black.
One man says no one can go to a camp in Zimbabwe that is on public land. Tell him to drop dead and just go there!
The country is on auto pilot and every tom and dick is doing as he pleases. Minister grabbing handouts, mobs wanting to takeover other people’s companies, 600 taking over someone’s plantation, kombi drivers and police playing cat and mouse in Harare, Presidential elephants out for grabs, Hwange Colliery facing collapse, Kereke and Gono washing their dirty linen in Samora Machel, Biti chasing Tsvangirayi in Mandel, and Tsvangirayi chasing Biti in Harvest House this makes Zimbabwe a tourist resort, add Magaya, Makandiwa and Angel you have a cocktail of intrigue.The Zimbabwe we want.
What specific law is this person invoking in making the ban. This person is in violation of the constitution, and if journalist are smart enough they can engage this man legally
Very funny Bhasikiti the former rhodie CIO now playing house bhoyi to mugabe