Political Reporter

The United States of America Embassy (US Embassy) in Harare is making frantic efforts to recruit local journalists that will produce news articles that are in favour of the opposition.

A source who spoke to this publication said that the US Embassy was dangling some money to journalists to lure them to their side.

The same source said that some journalists held a meeting with US Embassy officials last week and were promised a lucrative package if they can demonise the ruling ZANU PF party and Government in their reportage.

“The US Embassy is making frantic efforts to capture local journalists ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections. The idea is to flood all news sites with pro-opposition articles and to portray ZANU PF as a political monster ready to rig the forthcoming elections. The journalists are also being roped in to write articles that will prop up the image of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and its leader, Nelson Chamisa,” said the source.

The source added that Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) journalists, Blessed Mhlanga and Memory Mangwaya were already on US Embassy payroll and were tasked to recruit other journalists and bloggers.

“AMH journalists, Blessed Mhlanga and Memory Mangwaya are already on US Embassy payroll. The duo was tasked to recruit other journalists ahead of the 2023 elections. Mhlanga and Mangwaya will be the conduit of the US Embassy in the recruitment drive,” added the source.

According to the source, the US Embassy was contemplating paying US$200.00 for each article that denigrates the Government and ZANU PF.

Meanwhile, the source revealed that last week, US Embassy held a workshop with journalists in Avondale, Harare. During the workshop, officials from US Embassy urged independent journalists to form WhatsApp groups in order to inform each other whenever they are harassed or arrested by the police.

At the same workshop, the journalists were told that the US Embassy had secured a team of lawyers ready to represent journalists in the courts if they are arrested on election related matters.