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Agriculture and economic chaos
Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ)
Weekly Media Update 2006-21
Monday May 22^nd 2006 – Sunday May 28^th 2006

ALL media reflected the confusion bedevilling the authorities’ administration of the economy this week as illustrated by their coverage of the tax row between the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and stockbrokers.

The government media carried 23 stories on the topic (official Press [11] and ZBH [12]), while private media had six.

And in a rare display of professional compatibility, both sections of the media seemed to agree on the disastrous effects of Zimra’s tax demands on stockbrokers, which they contended would – among other factors – lead to over taxation, company closures and worsen Zimbabwe’s tattered image.

However, none of the media explained Zimra’s sudden demand for the Value Added Tax (VAT), which it had not been collecting since 2004. The Herald (24/5) merely reported that stockbrokers were exempted from paying the VAT and quoted tax law experts criticising Zimra for misdirecting itself.

The next day the paper and Chronicle (25/5) reported independent analysts decrying the effects of the disagreement on the Zimbabwean economy. They quoted one analyst, Dzika Danha, noting that the standoff between the stockbrokers and Zimra was a "disaster" and "sends very bad signals to the outside world", adding that the tax collector’s motives were "dubious". The Chronicle comment (26/5) further argued that if the stockbrokers, who were already paying stamp duty and withholding tax, were to pay VAT, "it would leave them facing a three-tier tax system, which may serve to deter investors, because of the high cost."

The Zimbabwe Independent (26/5) agreed. It noted that the stock market dealers "faced insolvency from the tax collector’s backdated tax claims".

These stories were part of 91 reports the media carried on indicators of Zimbabwe’s economic decline, underpinned by the galloping cost of living. Of these, 41 appeared in the government Press and 50 in private media (private papers [43] and private stations [7]).

But whereas the official papers generally reported the economic problems in isolation of their causes, the private media blamed them on government’s poor policies.

The voice distribution patterns for both sections of the Press is shown in Fig 1 and 2.

Fig. 1 Voice pattern in government papers

Fig. 2 Voice sourcing in the Private Press

Apart from following the impasse between Zimra and the stockbrokers, ZBH largely turned a blind eye to indicators of economic decline. Instead, it continued to refract the sad realities in the agricultural sector in the 76 stories it carried on farming. Most of the stories depicted the authorities, particularly vice president Joice Mujuru, as taking measures to address the crisis in agriculture.

Positive statements by the visiting Namibian delegation on the country’s land reforms were also handily used to gloss over government’s chaotic agricultural policies, which have been blamed for poor production.

For example, ZTV (22/5, 7am) reported Mujuru threatening to repossess land from "unproductive" resettled farmers and allocate it "to those willing to engage in agricultural activities".

But while the station simply hailed Mujuru’s routine statements - made during her much-publicised national tours- as the solution to the ailing sector, it avoided examining the actual reasons behind the low production.

Such passivity resulted in ZTV reporting, in the same bulletin, Lands and Security Minister defending farmers saying they should not be criticised for non-productivity as they "need time and support from government", adding that " it takes five years to be an established farmer". No attempt was made to reconcile his statements with those of Mujuru nor was he asked why farmers were yet to get "established" six years after they were resettled.

But rather than view such matters as indicative of failed agricultural policies, Spot FM and ZTV (23/5, 7am) supinely projected the land reform programme as a resounding success that had even resulted in Namibia sending a delegation to "to learn how (it) was implemented".

Earlier, ZTV (22/5, 6pm & 8pm) quoted Namibia’s Deputy Lands Minister hailing the land reforms saying "sanctions or no sanctions" Namibia will also "continue with its land reform programme to give land to the black majority".

Although ZBH’s sourcing pattern appeared diverse, its reports remained uncritical as they relied more on government voices. See Fig 3.

Fig 3 Voice distribution on ZBH

In contrast, the private stations’ five stories on agriculture were forthright on the problems affecting farming in Zimbabwe, which they blamed on government’s chaotic land reforms. The stories highlighted policy contradictions, continued farm invasions and ill treatment of farm labourers by resettled farmers.

SW Radio Africa (24/5), for example, revealed that despite official condemnation of farm occupations, resettled farmers were "intimidating (commercial) farmers and their workers" in Chiredzi and Chipinge to force them "to vacate their properties". One Chiredzi farmer, Gerry Whitehead, confirmed the development, claiming that the resettled farmers were "bragging" that they had the support of Mutasa.

Studio 7 (26/5) also reported another victim of the recent wave of farm invasions, acting president of the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU), Trevor Gifford, expressing hopes that "government will step in to halt the takeover of his farm".

However, none of the reports sought comment from relevant authorities on the matter.

Earlier, Studio 7 (25/5) highlighted the failure by the military-run Operation Maguta, which was touted as the panacea to low production. It revealed that farms acquired for the programme were "falling short of their grain production" targets "despite plenty of rainfall, abundant labour and access to fertiliser".

Besides, the station (23/5) warned that the crisis in the agricultural sector could deepen as "farm workers are threatening mass action against their poor working conditions and low wages".

The private stations sourcing pattern is shown in Fig 4.

Fig 4 Voice distribution on private stations

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