Allegations, allegations, allegations and bias

General Observation

Focus continues to be on the media’s coverage of developments emanating from the prolonged delay in the release of the results of the presidential elections of March 29 2008. This apparent state of crisis continues to expose the local media’s weakness with regard to objectivity, truthfulness and being informative a defined under tenets of the journalistic profession.

Where is Morgan Tsvangirai?

Considerable time has passed ever since the Movement for democratic Change (MDC) leader, Morgan Tsvangirai left the country. Varying versions of speculation on his exact whereabouts and circumstances continue to appear in the media.

While stories suggest that he is out on an innocent diplomatic initiative to seek support for democratic change in the walk of yet to be announced outcome of the presidential election, others have suggested that he has joined the multitude of Zimbabweans seeking asylum throughout the world.

The Zimbabwe Independent (17-24 April, 2008) carried a story claiming that the MDC leader would return next week, but Tsvangirai never showed up throwing the nation into yet another spate of anxiety, (No Follow Up was Made)
Now, the wait is on many fronts. While Zimbabweans still wait for the presidential results, they also wait the coming back of one of the country’s key political players. Maybe the media needs to do more to clear this multi – levels of anxiety.

The on-going state of violence

In its lead story, The Standard (20-26 April, 2008) carried a story headlined, MDC claims 10 killed. The story carried apparent reference to the violence that has characterized the post election period. This is a particularly sad development that warrants serious and investigative media attention. It, however, appears that most local media are not treating this unfortunate development in the manner they should. The state-controlled media, ZBC, The Herald, have chosen to stick to the propaganda brief, ignoring the reports on political violence. Going through copies of The Herald for the past week, one may as well be forgiven for believing President Thabo Mbeki’s assertions of there being ‘no crisis in Zimbabwe’. Other media including Voice of America’s Studio 7, online publications and privately owned newspapers have largely chosen to depend on political party accounts in their coverage of unfolding political developments particularly in rural areas. There is need for more investigative coverage at this crucial moment.

Chinamasa’ unending propaganda song

Once again The Herald, (April 22, 2008) gave Patrick Chinamasa, one of Zanu PF’s losing parliamentary candidates unlimited space to vent out unsubstantiated political claims. Where are the winning voices?
In the story, Chinamasa alleges that there is no violence in the country and that the MDC rigged the elections. Ironically, Chinamasa also alleges that the MDC is perpetrating violence in order to justify international intervention. This story was laden with bias, monumental inconsistencies and serous allegations from a public official; yet The Herald never bothered to get the MDC side of story.
However, The Independent in its edition of April 25 to May 1 2008 struck the required balance on the same issue by quoting Chinamasa and MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa.