Political Reporter
In an unexpected move, the interim secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Fadzayi Mahere, has instructed party candidates to refrain from granting interviews to journalists from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
Mahere reportedly advised that candidates from the CCC should exclusively interact with international media houses like SABC, Voice of America (VOA), and Reuters, while shunning the national broadcaster.
Sources privy to the matter confirmed, "Mahere unequivocally told CCC candidates to hang up the phone or just say no when contacted by ZBC journalists. This directive is explicit and clear."
A local political analyst, Edith Muchenje, termed this development as 'unfortunate,' suggesting that the CCC might be attempting to accuse ZBC of not fulfilling the Electoral Act's requirements for equitable media access during the campaign period.
Muchenje added that the CCC's move raises several concerns about media relations and the state of democratic discourse in the country.
“Access to fair and impartial reporting from a variety of media outlets is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy, and any effort to limit engagement with a particular media outlet may have implications on the electoral process.
“The decision to restrict CCC candidates from interacting with ZBC not only limits the information available to voters but also undermines the spirit of open dialogue. As the nation prepares for the upcoming elections, CCC should consider engaging with ZBC to ensure a fair and transparent election,” said Muchenje.
During a recent briefing for diplomats and foreign observer missions accredited to cover the country's harmonized elections scheduled for August 23, the Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services, Kindness Paradza, emphasized ZBC's readiness to cover the elections fairly.
"Our national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, has enough personnel to cover the elections. We have studio programs for all political parties to take advantage of during these elections," Paradza stated.
He went on to elaborate, "The broadcaster has dedicated time for candidates, party manifestos, and then constituencies' indaba. These are offered to political parties for free so that they can disseminate their messages free of charge."
Paradza, however, noted that most political parties, instead of seizing this opportunity, refuse to utilize the free airtime, a clear reference to the recent directive issued by the CCC.
As Zimbabwe navigates this complex political landscape, the role of both national and international media remains critical. The hope is that all stakeholders, including political parties and media entities, will put the nation's democratic values at the forefront of their operations and decisions.
