(MISA/IFEX) – Part-time broadcaster for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) Gerry Jackson has been fired by ZBC for reporting on a disturbances that took place in Harare on 9 December 1997, reports the Media Institute of Zimbabwe chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe). Jackson received a letter terminating her contract with the ZBC on 13 December. ZBC Radio 3 […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Part-time broadcaster for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation (ZBC) Gerry Jackson has been fired by ZBC for
reporting on a disturbances that took place in Harare on 9
December 1997, reports the Media Institute of Zimbabwe chapter
(MISA-Zimbabwe). Jackson received a letter terminating her
contract with the ZBC on 13 December. ZBC Radio 3 chief producer
and acting head Admire Taderera told Jackson she would not be
able to return to Radio 3 because of “her insubordination and
total disregard for authority”.
On 9 December, Jackson had broadcast news of workers protesting
tax increases in Harare. Riot police opened tear gas on the
workers, who were demonstrating against a tax increase aimed at
generating money for disgruntled ex-fighters. The Zimbabwe
government had announced a 5% War Veteran Levy increases in sales
tax on goods, fuel and electricity.
The police reportedly acted excessively in their use of tear gas
on innocent people going about their business. The behaviour of
the police has been condemned from a wide section of Zimbabweans.
The taxes have since been withdrawn.
Jackson took calls from listeners reporting the rioting and also
on the police assaults. Taderera had ordered Jackson to stop
broadcasting information about the disturbances. Taderera also
said that he had received a complaint from the police public
relations department that it was not given a chance to comment on
the disturbances on the radio.
Jackson said that she was “shocked” by the dismissal and thinks
that the whole issue has been blown out of proportion. She went
on to say that Taderera informed her on 15 December that there
was pressure from the President’s Office to dismiss her.
For his part, Taderera told MISA-Zimbabwe he wondered why
everyone was making a fuss over Jackson’s dismissal. He refused
to comment further, but said that everything that was reported by
the press regarding the dismissal was correct.
