By Claver Nyuki
Former Daily News editor, Stanley Gama has been roped in by the G40 cabal to spearhead the media campaign for the #TysonWabantu by creating a media house which will administer an online page and a weekly print paper.
A source who spoke to the Harare Post on condition of anonymity confirmed the development, revealing that the publication should be registered with the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) by 1 December 2019.
“Plans are underway to create a media house called Zimbabwe Times which will be used to propagate the #Tysonwabantu political project in the country.
“The media house which is set to be registered before 1 December 2019 will have an online page as well as a weekly print version and this is all being done by Gama,” the source revealed.
The source also added that Gama is currently booked at Meikles Hotel by the G40 faction as he recruits journalists and media personnel for the project.
“Gama has been booked at Meikles Hotel while he advances the logistics for the media house and also recruits media personnel to work for the publication.
“However, Gama is reportedly facing some challenges as some of their preferred choices have declined the chance to work with them citing concerns that the project would not last.
“Associated Press’s Farai Mutsaka and Daily News Chief Reporter, Fungi Kwaramba had been earmarked to be the Chief Editor and News Editor respectively but declined, saying their future would not be guaranteed,” he added.
Meanwhile, reports by the publication has unearthed information that online satirical media house, Bus Stop TV received a grant of US $40 000-00 from Swedish Fojo Media Institute and Inter Media (Fojo – IMS) to advance anti-Government propaganda through social media.
The grant which is administered under the Fojo – IMS Zimbabwe media projects will fund the Bus Stop TV project titled, “The people’s bus: New Media, public transport and citizen agents in Zimbabwe,” and will cover the period 1 October 2019 to 30 April 2022.
The grant follows the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Bus Stop TV Director and Producer, Lucky Aaron and Head of International Development Program, Katarina Zwiwkeys on 4 October 2019.
There has been a noticeable increase in anti-Government satirical skits on social media which confirms international funding of these media houses.
