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Complaint against the Herald on their article titled, "PM embroiled in bribery scandal" which was published on the 6th of January 2012
Ian Makone, Prime Minister's Office
January 13, 2012

The Office of the Prime Minister notes with concern the article referred to above.

On the 6th of January 2012, The Herald published an article titled "PM embroiled in bribery scandal" in which it was unambiguously alleged that the Prime Minister had bribed Editors from three private newspapers in order to influence them to write what The Herald described as positive stories on his political and personal life.

The Herald story however, does not provide proof of these serious allegations nor does it name the sources that provided them with the evidence to support the bribery allegations. There is no attempt in the whole article to substantiate the allegations of bribery against the Prime Minister. The story is shockingly lacking in truth and detail. The specific facts pertaining to the actual event or events wherein the alleged bribes were dispensed are conspicuous by their absence. Indeed, there is no mention in the article of what form these bribes took. In short, it is clear to any impartial reader that the allegations as presented in the article are without any substance.

The Prime Minister is naturally aggrieved by these unjustified allegations in the article concerned. These bribery allegations are false in their entirety. It is the Prime Minister's view that these allegations were concocted by The Herald and those that are politically associated with them in order to portray him as a corrupt politician, thereby discrediting him. The fact that the article is devoid of any specific detail concerning the alleged bribery suggests to the Prime Minister that both the author and the publisher of the article must have been aware of the falsity of the allegations contained in the article even as they were printing them.

It is pertinent to note that throughout the tenure of the Government of National Unity, the Herald has persistently and consistently poured scorn and abuse on the person and office of the Prime Minister. This article is the latest attempt by The Herald to discredit the Prime Minister through false allegations.

In view of the above, The Prime Minister hereby lodges with your Commission, a formal complaint against the 'The Herald' and the Editor of the Herald for their conduct which is in breach of all known journalistic ethics. It is his view that the powers vested in the Zimbabwe Media Commission by Sections 100 (p) and 100 (q) of the Constitution and also by Section 39 (b), (i) and (p) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, enable your Commission to address this complaint effectively. The cavalier attitude with which the Herald recklessly made allegations of such magnitude without an iota of proof to support them deserves censure by your Commission.

It is the Prime Minister's sincere hope that your commission will treat this matter with the urgency it deserves.

Yours Faithfully,

Ian Makone
Chief Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister

cc: Minister of Media, Information and Publicity

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