(MISA/IFEX) – State-owned media editors have been told to comply fully with official views in the run-up to the general elections, the “Zimbabwe Independent” reported in its 28 April 2000 edition. Information Minister Chenhamo Chimutengwende reportedly told the state editors at his Linquenda House offices that they had an obligation to support and amplify government […]
(MISA/IFEX) – State-owned media editors have been told to comply fully with official views in the run-up to the general elections, the “Zimbabwe Independent” reported in its 28 April 2000 edition.
Information Minister Chenhamo Chimutengwende reportedly told the state editors at his Linquenda House offices that they had an obligation to support and amplify government policy and views “without question”.
The meeting was attended by editors from Zimbabwe Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. which controls six newspapers (“The Herald”, “The Chronicle”, “The Sunday Mail”, “The Sunday News”, “The Manica Post” and “Kwayedza”), the state news agency and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
A source, claimed the “Independent”, said that Chimutengwende had urged the editors to write positive stories about the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU -PF) party and attack the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Reporters who worked for the official media but were sympathetic towards MDC were to be weeded out.
