via Bulawayo24 NEWS | Mugabe under fire. 11 June 2014 by Staff reporter
THE Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) yesterday expressed concerns over President Robert Mugabe’s remarks on appointments of editors at the State media saying this proved reforms were needed.
MMPZ said although Mugabe reserved the right to criticise his ministers, the implications of his comments were a source of grave concern, particularly his insinuation that the State media should exclusively serve Zanu-PF’s interests.
Mugabe attacked Media, Information and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo’s appointment of some editors at the State media saying their political affiliation was questionable.MMPZ indicated that it believed there was nothing wrong in appointing journalists who have previously worked for the private media and that such appointments should only be based on merit.
“Mugabe’s criticism of the appointment of the State media editors, and his reported demand for an investigation into how journalists perceived to be anti-Zanu-PF had been appointed, clearly illustrates the importance of these media to Zanu-PF and Mugabe’s determination to ensure they remain firmly under the control of the ruling party,” the body said.”Such interference in the operations of these media constitutes a clear violation of the principles governing the public media concept and the provisions of Zimbabwe’s new Constitution.
Such interference also violates regional and international protocols, such as the Sadc Principles Governing Democratic Elections, the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Zimbabwe is signatory.
“MMPZ stated that Section 61 (4) of the Constitution declares: “All State-owned media of communication must be free to determine independently the editorial content of their broadcasts or other communications, be impartial and afford fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions.”Section 90 of the Constitution demands that the president “must uphold, defend, obey and respect the Constitution” as the supreme law of the land and “promote unity . . . and respect the diversity of the people of Zimbabwe”.
COMMENTS
The lack of education and knowledge is no excuse for writing such articles.
Very simply for those a bit dim like the journalist, ZBC like the BBC is a government run station therefore supportive of government like the BBC is supportive of the British Government.
The world will not change this because of a journalists lack of understanding.
Your reply only goes to show your ignorance. The BBC can be critical of the British Government, not as you say is supportive of it. Rather the BBC is apolitical (so you understand – not political. This however is irrelevant, the BBC does not support one political party – it is unable to so according to the law of the land! I suggest you return to school and study some more before making such idiotic postings!
You expose you idiocy by assuming BBC supports the government. Those of us who live in the developed countries will tell you the reason why Zimbabwe is suffering is because of idiots like you, who will worship the nonsense coming out of the idiot called Mugabe
@Publicprotector WTF do you come from?? Do you really believe by making such ignorant comments people with access to social media can not see through the fact that you are an exceptionally retarded brainwashed piece of #%&@ ???? Western media has the power to bring governments down and so they should. You can have a bad government as long as you have a good press , the country will still run fine. Your little Zimbabalooba has nothing , no good government and no press!!! I truly pray for the future of your offspring god help them as I won’t.
publicprotector…you sound like an idiot. The BBC regularly put the British Government under a glaring spotlight…..IT IS BY LAW APOLITICAL. It competes with every broadcasting group around the world to hire the very best journalists who DO NOT GIVE A FIG about political bias – THEY WANT THE BEST TRUE STORY…. searching for the story that makes people listen – chete.
Publicprotector is just singing for his supper. He knows nothing besides ZPF hogwash.Brainwashed to the skull.