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Complaints report - March 2011
Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
April 05, 2011

Complaint 1

Parties: Cllr Mukwazhe v/s The Sun Newspaper

Complaint: Cllr Mukwazhe filed a complaint with VMCZ over a article in The Sun entitled "Mtapa Councillor's Kombi set on Fire" published on 28 January 2011. The newspaper alleged that the Kombi was set on fire in a suspected love triangle. The councillor denied the allegations arguing that the Kombi just caught fire when he was parked outside his in-laws place. The councillor demanded an apology from the newspaper. The newspaper in its next edition carried a story where the husband of the woman alleged to be in love with Cllr Mukwazhe was denying the allegations.

Status: Adjudicated

• The VMCZ Media Complaints Committee summoned the editor of The Sun and the complainant for adjudication on the matter
• The committee after hearing the matter on 28 March 2011 ruled that the paper had violated Article 4 (a) and 5 (b) of the Code which provides that media practitioners and institutions must report and interpret the news with scrupulous honestly and must take all reasonable steps to ensure that they depict events fairly and without distortions and if it has published an erroneous report that has caused harm to the reputation of a person, it must publish an apology promptly and with due prominence. The MCC ruled that The Sun must publish, on the front page of its next edition, an apology in which it states that the allegations contained in its edition of 28 January 2011 that Councillor Mukwazhe was engaged in an adulterous extra-marital affair are false and it apologises to the Councillor.

Complaint 2

Parties: Energy Bara vs The Voice of the People (VOP)

Complaint: Masvingo based journalist Energy Bara filed a complaint against VOP over a story carried on 23/03/11 entitled "Journalist turned politician wins MDC primary elections." Mr Bara said the story was entirely false as he never participated in any primary elections. He further said he never had any interview with the reporter.

Status: Pending (awaiting Mr Bara to confirm acceptance)

• Radio VOP issued an apology to Bara after their investigations revealed that the story was false.
• VOP claimed it received the story from one of its correspondents but the correspondent indicated that someone accessed his email and posted the false story.

Complaint 3

Parties: MISA-Zimbabwe vs Delta Beverages and the Standard

Complaint: MISA-Zimbabwe filed a complaint with the MCC over a Redds advertisement carried in the Standard Newspaper of 06 March 2011. The advertisement showed the posteriors of four women each holding a bottle of Redds. MISA-Zimbabwe said the advertisement objectifies women.

Status: Pending (awaiting MISA-Zimbabwe approval)

• After a complaint was lodged with the MCC, Delta beverages withdrew the advertisement and apologised to MISA-Zimbabwe.

Complaint 4

Parties: Geoffrey Nyarota vs The Daily News

Complaint: Mr Nyarota launched a complaint against The Daily News over an article carried by the newspaper in its 18 March 2011 edition. The paper carried a picture of Mr Nyarota under the headline "We are Back." Mr Nyarota says the use of his picture under that headline is misleading as it insinuates that he is part of the Daily News team. He wants the newspaper to correct what he considers misleading information.

Status: Pending

• The MCC has written a letter to The Daily News editor, Mr John Gambanga notifying him of Mr. Nyarota's complaint and the committee is currently awaiting Mr Gambanga's response.

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