Herbert Masango

Self-exiled former Cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has issued a sharp critique of the country’s media landscape, urging journalists to prioritise factual reporting over hearsay, particularly in the wake of disinformation surrounding Zimbabwe’s failed March 31 uprising and alleged parliamentary controversies.  

In a detailed thread on X yesterday, Prof. Moyo, who previously served as Minister of State for Information and Publicity in the Office of the President and Cabinet, condemned the spread of “political, emotive, and utterly false” claims regarding a purported parliamentary shutdown to avoid impeaching President Emmerson Mnangagwa and allegations of bribery involving lawmakers.

He emphasised that journalism must rise above sensationalism, stating, “Journalism should be factual, accurate, objective, fair, balanced, and impartial. Messaging without these qualities is anything but journalism.”

Prof. Moyo’s remarks followed viral social media posts and media reports claiming that Parliament had adjourned early on April 8 to block impeachment proceedings.

He dismissed these assertions as baseless, citing official parliamentary records showing no such motion existed.

“Only a joint sitting of the Senate and National Assembly can initiate impeachment,” Prof. Moyo noted, adding that no such session was scheduled.  

Similarly, he refuted claims that MPs were bribed with land to oppose impeachment, clarifying that urban stand allocations were part of a long-standing civil service scheme dating back to 2013.

“This was not a sudden bribery plot but a delayed fulfilment of a decade-old policy,” Prof. Moyo explained, sharing parliamentary documents corroborating the programme’s timeline.  

The professor linked the disinformation wave to efforts by opposition-aligned actors to recast the botched March 31 uprising as a “success”.

The planned revolt, which called for street protests to “overthrow the Government,” saw minimal public participation, with most citizens ignoring the call.

Prof. Moyo argued that labelling the subdued response a “huge stay-away success” was disingenuous, stressing that a failed uprising “leaves its architects vulnerable to charges of treason.”  

While critical of media malpractice, Prof. Moyo struck a hopeful tone, urging national unity ahead of Zimbabwe’s Independence Day commemorations on April 18.

. “Unity is paramount,” he wrote, emphasising that effective governance requires leaders to “exude solidarity” and prioritise service delivery over factionalism.  

His commentary resonated with media analysts advocating for ethical reporting.

 “Fact-checking safeguards democracy. When media trades truth for clicks, public trust erodes," said media expert Miriam Nyandoro.

 Harare-based media ethics analyst Andrew Bako echoed calls for accountability, urging authorities to “crack down decisively on reckless media houses and journalists who deliberately mislead the public with unverified claims.”

Bako warned that unchecked disinformation could “stoke unrest, deepen polarisation, and undermine social cohesion.”

"While press freedom is sacrosanct, those abusing it to peddle fiction as news must face stringent penalties. Fabricated stories about impeachments or uprisings don’t inform, they inflame. Responsible journalism is non-negotiable for national stability," Bako said.

Meanwhile, Prof. Moyo’s critique underscores a pressing need to recalibrate public discourse around verifiable truths, a step he argues is vital for national progress.