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MISA lashes out at Zimbabwean ambassador
SABC News
February 15, 2006

http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,121733,00.html

The Media Institute of SA (MISA) has lashed out at Simon Khaya Moyo, the Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa, for accusing the public broadcaster of unfairness. Moyo has lodged a complaint with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), accusing the corporation of constantly portraying Zimbabwe negatively in its news bulletins.

In a letter to SABC, Moyo apparently said the negative reference to Zimbabwe is most astounding. The Media Institute of Southern Africa says the ambassador has no right to determine what kind of reporting the SABC should carry out when covering Zimbabwe stories. Rashweat Mukundu, MISA's national director in Zimbabwe, says in fact the government has been enjoying good coverage from the SABC recently.

Zimbabwe embarked on it's land reform in 2000, forcefully removing white farmers from their farms. This plunged the country's economy into crisis, resulting in severe acute food, fuel and hard currency shortage. The Zimbabwean government blamed Britain for the situation, however.

Moyo says he personally received numerous calls from within and outside South Africa questioning the objectivity of SABC's news on Zimbabwe. He says the agenda is difficult to comprehend.

Snuki Zikala, the head of SABC news, says he hasn't received the letter yet. He says he will respond once he has received and studied issues raised by Moyo.

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