Fed up with negative publicity emanating from state owned media outlets, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's office has launched a weekly newsletter updating people on the 'progress and problems' in government. The first run of the newsletter, made up of 40 000 copies, was distributed on Wednesday.
"This is in line with the new governance culture of transparency and accountability, which is one of the key commitments of the global political agreement," the newsletter read.
The Prime Minister's office said the newsletter was an opportunity for people to air their views and opinions about the new inclusive government. The development however highlights the inability of the state owned media to embrace ZANU PF's partners in the coalition government, and to report objectively on their efforts. Tsvangirai's world tour, for example, has been projected as an 'assignment from Mugabe' for the Prime Minister to go and have targeted sanctions against the ruling elite removed.
Even after the unity deal was sealed in February this year the MDC has continued to receive negative coverage from the state media. Last week the MDC had to issue a denial after the Herald newspaper falsely reported that their Ministers had snubbed the recent COMESA summit. "The malicious fabrications betray the reality that there are some people in certain political parties who continue to abuse the state media to mislead the nation," a party statement read. The MDC added that this was coming from people who wanted to derail the coalition.
This week MDC legislator for Mbizo, Settlement Chikwinya tabled a motion in Parliament calling on the Executive to bring before Parliament a repeal or amendment of any pieces of legislation that curtail media freedom. Chikwinya's motion also raised concerns over the continued abuse of the state media. He called on Parliament and the Information Ministry to immediately constitute the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, and grant licences to other players in the field.
Newsreel spoke to Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition director Mcdonald Lewanika who noted that it was a bit strange for the Prime Minister to have to use a newsletter to counter media that was owned by the state. He however said the plus side of the move was that it showed Tsvangirai was pursuing a policy of being transparent in his work, something Lewanika felt was commendable. Asked why the state media continued to paint a negative image of the MDC, he said it was all about the next election and ZANU PF was not willing to build up Tsvangirai's reputation.
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This article is misleading, it is a piece of garbage, it is trash and it is a piece of scrap tosh, it is propaganda meant to prop up the MDC. How can the author, Lance Guma, say that there is propaganda against MDC but at the same time goes on to say that Tsvangirai, as Prime Minister, launches a news letter to counter propaganda against the MDC?
Is there any logic in that? I think not unless the author is conforming to us that Tsvangirai is now using state resources to prop up his party.
Lance Guma should know that the Prime Minister's office is a national institution enshrined in our constitution while MDC is a partisan group of people. Tsvangirai cannot be seen to be doing party work in a national office.
The example that Guma gives to prove his shallow point, that Tsvangirai's brief is to call for the lifting of sanctions against the people of Zimbabwe, has nothing to do with Tsvangirai as MDC leader but as PM of Zimbabwe.
Thus there is no denying that Tsvangirai gets orders from the Head of State and Government of Zimbabwe, H.E. President R.G. Mugabe. Why should someone like Guma confuse issues that are so clear like this one?
The point being made, and the point that should not be confused with state functions of MDC ministers, is that the MDC cannot expect positive coverage when it is not behaving negatively. Recently MDC thugs attacked an officer of government (a civil servant) at his farm in Mazowe. After such a negative incident the MDC still expects positive coverage - thats nonsense, it is absurd.
Another correction I want to make from Guma's article is the notion that Tsvangirai is on a "world tour". No he is not undertaking a "world tour" but a European tour. How can five countries in Europe and the USA constitute the "world"? This is the same mentality that makes people accept that the 1939-1945 was World War II when in fact it was a European War II.
It was not a world war but a European war that we, as their slaves, were forced to participate in against our wish. Given a choice I am sure no one would have participated in a war that had no bearing on and benefit to us. Of course that excludes sellouts that have existed ever since time immemorial.
The point I am making is that what Hitler wanted to do is what they had done to us some years before and so we would not have fought Hitlers Germany before fighting them, especially the British.
This is indicative of the skewed and inferiority complex and mentality still prevalent within us. We are still very badly mentally colonized to the extent of believing imperialist garbage that they are the "international community". Will we ever be able to mentally de-colonize ourselves if we continue to parrot western propaganda like what the likes of Guma do?
Wake up Lance, President Mugabe send you to school so that you could be enlightened hence be mentally de-colonized. You should show the difference, in knowledge, with my grandmother in the rural areas.
That is the real reason why President Mugabe is today still fighting for the poor and disadvantaged people of Zimbabwe and indeed of the world to make sure that we are FULLY and COMPLETELY LIBERATED politically, socially, culturally, economically and mentally as well. We can never develop if we are not fully independent from the vestiges of colonialism.
Takunya, Mr "The CIA Invented Homosexuality"
You are talking out your bum again. There is plenty of daily propoganda spun by the Herald. And you for that matter. Its about time there was a document for people to read that told the MDC side of the situation.. There always 2 sides to every story remember.
How does this confirm that the MDC is using state resources? The MDC has a lot of funding that is not state money. Remember the £73 million recently provided by Obama?
This is not a party piece, this is a document from the GNU telling the progress of the GNU and the struggles the GNU is facing. You're just bitter arent you taky.
You list one incident when the MDC perpetrated violence. There are many hunderds of incidents where the ZANU PF was responsible, so its about time the MDC has a voice! As for your nonsense about a world tour.. He's clearly travelling around the world simple really. And how can you say that World War II was just a European War. Rediculous. Did you not know that Russia, Japan, the US, Australia, NZ and many many many other countries were invloved. Yet another of your rediculous comments. And you got it wrong, President Mugabe is not fighting for the poor and disadvantaged people of Zimbabwe and indeed of the world he is fighting against them. Well done idiot. Thanks for another idiotic post.
Oh Takunya again coming online with his garbage of colonialism.You see Takunya, the only way you can change the present status quo is by telling your African leaders to sober up and start thinking progressively for the good of their people then you will stop moaning about the whiteman.Takunya, Julius Nyerere once said "whilst the west is going to the moon, we Africans are going back to the villages" That tells you a lot.
Should there be any reminders to Zimbos that criminal Mugabe continues to undermine MDC ministers?
Who did say tyrant Mugabe is a patriot? He only strives to promote and protect his thugs who ensure that his private coffer is full of illgotten wealth!
What a rotten banana republic ?
Thanks Tsvangirai is there to limit the chaos;