The Director of the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Posts and Telecommunications in Zimbabwe has confirmed that the government has assumed direct control of the country’s largest media group, the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust (ZMMT). Bornwell Chakaodza said that a 29 April 1996 amendment to the ZMMT’s deed gives the state the authority to oversee the […]
The Director of the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Posts
and Telecommunications in Zimbabwe has confirmed that the
government has assumed direct control of the country’s largest
media group, the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust (ZMMT). Bornwell
Chakaodza said that a 29 April 1996 amendment to the ZMMT’s deed
gives the state the authority to oversee the operations of the
ZMMT. Chakaodza said the government decided to take over direct
control of the ZMMT because the deed put in place soon after
independence in 1980 did not provide for a division of labour
within the trusteeship that would allow the ZMMT to operate
independent of government. He added that although the trust deed
under which ZMMT was founded in 1981 provided a buffer to
distance newspapers from government interference, the main
shareholder remained the state.
ZMMT took over the ownership of a chain of newspapers from the
previous owner, South Africa’s Argus Group. ZMMT owns Zimbabwe’s
biggest-selling dailies “The Herald” and “The Chronicle”, the
Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency (ZIANA) and four weekly
newspapers.
While denying reports that President Robert Mugabe has ultimately
taken over control of the press, Chakaodza said the appointment
of editors rests in the hands of the ZMMT Board, but that these
appointments must now be approved by the President and the
Minister of Information. “Those appointed are expected to
function professionally, giving credit or blame where it is due,”
he said. He further emphasised that although journalists are
expected to be the ears and eyes of the citizens, “those
appointed to serve in the state-controlled media should be
sensitive to the national interests of Zimbabwe.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
control of ZMMT may lead to diminished editorial independence for
journalists
to the original intention of the deed, which was to distance
government from controlling the media
Appeals To
His Excellency Robert Mugabe
President of Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe
Fax: +263 4 70 51 61
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
