Staff Reporter
Journalist and staffers under Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) reportedly downed tools yesterday in protest of late payments and deteriorating working conditions.
A staffer at The Standard, one of AMH's prominent publications, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity told the Harare Post of the dire situation faced by journalists, who have become incapacitated due to the organization's failure to fulfill its financial obligations.
The staffer painted a grim picture of their daily struggles, revealing that journalists had resorted to leaving work early to secure more affordable transportation options before peak hours.
"I am a mother of three children, and as I speak right now, they are not going to school. Some of the journalists are being evicted by their landlords for failing to pay rentals," lamented the staffer, highlighting the profound impact of the financial crisis on the personal lives of AMH employees.
Disturbingly, the source also disclosed a concerning development within AMH, as some journalists have allegedly turned to moonlighting for hostile organizations. These organizations are purportedly manipulating vulnerable media houses to propagate false narratives aligning with their agenda of regime change.
"It is so sad that most of the AMH journalists are being used by these hostile organizations to write news articles that tarnish the Government’s image," the staffer further revealed. The motive behind these actions, according to the staffer, is a clandestine effort to influence a regime change agenda.
Faced with these challenges, AMH journalists are now contemplating joining state media, which reportedly offers better remuneration. The allure of stability and financial security prompts these professionals to consider leaving the AMH in search of greener pastures.
Simultaneously, political analysts have directed criticism at Trevor Ncube, the founder of AMH Holdings, accusing him of becoming a mouthpiece for the opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The analysts opined that Ncube had previously received funding from CCC backers, including the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the US Embassy, and the George Sorros' Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) since he was being used to propagate articles that tarnish the image of the Government so as to influence their regime change agenda.
The political analysts indicated that a shift has occurred as these organizations allegedly lost confidence in the CCC, leading them to cease funding the opposition party. This has left Ncube and AMH in a precarious position, caught between financial struggles and accusations of political bias.
