I chuckled out loud when I read the story that Mugabe’s mouthpiece had printed a retraction of a story about the MDC which was evidently a lie.

In Zimbabwe, Mugabe would prefer that every reporter is accredited - and if that accreditation is with a magazine, newspaper or affiliated to a country that he doesn’t care for, then that accreditation will be denied!

The Sunday Mail is the Sunday equivalent of The Herald

Last year his police force dragged a few journalists to court for committing the crime of - wait for it – “journalism”!

With the advent of the unity, inclusive, power sharing government, it was hoped that the free media would at least be given a chance in Zimbabwe.

AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act)a legislative Act authored by Jonathan Moyo - now the only independent MP in government - states in Section 39 that the functions of the Zimbabwe Media Commission will include:

“(a) to uphold and develop the freedom of the press; and
(b) to promote and enforce good practice and ethics in the press, print and electronic media, and broadcasting; and
(c) to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe have equitable and wide access to information; and
(d) to ensure the equitable use and development of all indigenous languages spoken in Zimbabwe”

The Commission has failed - spectacularly and publicly. However, this has not stopped the oppression of the free press and other bodies from attempting to get the story out.

Just last week there was much talk of the journalists within the country having to undergo accreditation - but this now seems to have been allowed to slip by.

Two weeks ago, when WOZA members were beaten and arrested having conducted a peaceful march, three journalists were arrested with the people. One of these reporters was an employee of The Herald.

The police decided to release reporter for The Herald, but the other two journalists protested - all three were then released without charge.

The Herald spends most of its tabloid space reporting either on the good works of ZANU PF or the negative side of the MDC - be it true or not.

ZANU PF see nothing wrong with this practice. Telling a lie or exaggerating the failings of another is not a crime - unless you get caught.

And, as in this case, The Herald seems to think that printing an anonymous, tucked away retraction serves to right the wrong.

As a comparison - a senior MDC official is presently awaiting trial for perjury insofar as he reported what he perceived as an abduction to police and made a sworn statement to that effect. His belief that the activists were abducted were subsequently disproved as they had been picked up by police for questioning - and he withdrew his statement - only to be charged for breaking the law by making a ‘false’ sworn statement.

I don’t believe that this man did anything wrong if he believed his sworn statement to be correct at the time of it being made.

The Herald’s publishing of a story that they knew to be untrue is strikingly similar - but do we see the editorial staff of The Herald being had up in a criminal or civil court for their deeds? No.

A simple retraction seems to have been enough… but the retraction of the sworn statement by the MDC official is not enough in the eyes of the Mugabe-driven ZRP.

There is no media freedom in Zimbabwe, and whilst Mugabe is President, there never will be.

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man