Back to Index

Statement on the attack of Herald reporters and the destroying of NewsDay newspapers
Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
March 21, 2011

CASE NO.1

VMCZ has received a complaint from a Gweru based councillor Ferinos Mukwazhe, who has filed a case against The Sun Newspaper over an article headed "Mtapa Councillor's Kombi set on fire...in a suspected love triangle vengeance mission" published in The Sun of 28 January -4 February 2011.

The story alleged that Clr Mukwazhwe was at a lover's house when the Kombi was set ablaze.

Clr Mukwazhe says he is aggrieved because he alleges that the whole story is factually incorrect as his Kombi was not set on fire but it developed a mechanical problem when he started the vehicle. He says he was not at a lover's house when the incident occurred but says he was at his in-laws place. He further claims that he is not in love with the alleged woman.

The councillor in his complaint to VMCZ says he contacted The Sun newspaper over the story and The Sun promised to do a retraction, which has not been done yet.

The Sun however published in the issue of 4-11 February 2011, a story headlined "My wife is not in love with Mtapa Councillor" where the husband of the alleged girlfriend to Clr Mukwazhe dismissed the love triangle allegations.

The Sun says the follow up article published in its 4-11 February 2011 edition is enough apology to Clr Mukhwazhe.

However, Clr Mukwazhe says the article is not enough apology.

STATUS: The matter has been set for adjudication and will be heard by the VMCZ Media Complaints Committee soon.

CASE NO.2

VMCZ has received a complaint from the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe) Gender Desk over a Redds advertisement carried by The Standard newspaper in its edition of 06 March 2011.

MISA-Zimbabwe Gender Desk says the advertisement is offensive to women as it objectifies them. The said advertisement carries the image of four women's posteriors with a bottle of Redds against their backs.

STATUS: The complaint is now before the VMCZ Media Complaints Committee.

Visit the VMCZ fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP