Source: HRT blasts ‘captured’ media, bars interviews with non-publishing journalists – herald
Municipal Correspondent
Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has taken a hardline stance against sections of the media, declaring it will no longer grant interviews to journalists who allegedly received documentary evidence of corruption at City of Harare but failed to publish the stories.
This was said in a statement by HRT chairman Mr Precious Shumba, accusing what he described as a “cartel” operating at Town House of enlisting journalists to suppress negative coverage of the municipality.
“On behalf of the Harare Residents Trust, we will not give interviews to any journalist who has previously received documentary evidence of corruption in the City of Harare and failed to publish the story,” said Mr Shumba.
He alleged that the purported arrangement had compromised the integrity of some members of the Fourth Estate, undermining transparency and accountability in local governance.
“Based on what we have established, a cartel at Town House has retained the services of dozens of journalists to avoid writing stories that portray the City of Harare in a bad light,” he said.
Mr Shumba further claimed that some reporters were attending full council meetings not to inform the public, but to act as “gatekeepers” of sensitive information.
“Despite having important documents and attending full council meetings, some journalists are not there to write the stories but are gatekeepers,” he said.
He added: “Mareporters mazhinji ari kutengesa mastory, vachiuraya nyaya dzakakosha,” suggesting that some journalists were allegedly being paid to suppress critical stories.
The HRT position is likely to ignite debate within media and civic society circles, particularly on issues of ethics, accountability and the role of journalism in promoting good governance.
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