John Gazi vs. Newsday (7
December 2012)
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Mr John
Gazi filed a complaint with the Media Complaints Committee (MCC)
over two articles published by the Newsday on 6 December 2012
and 7 December 2012, headlined, "Ex-Commanders back Tsvangirai
and "Zipra statements spark controversy."
Mr Gazi alleges that the article published
on the 6th of December 2012 is not accurate at all as it quotes
a statement written by non-existent former Zipra Commanders.
Mr Gazi says he is a Zipra commander and has
communicated with other surviving Zipra commanders who all
know nothing about the statement by the alleged Zipra commanders
and the statements reported on and quoted in the NewsDay.
Mr Gazi also says he is quoted in an article
published the following day and says he never said what is
attributed to him.
Mr Gazi says he wants NewsDay to issue a retraction
of the story published.
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Status:
Resolved
The
matter was brought before the Media Complaints Committee (MCC).
NewsDay was represented at the hearing by Constantine Chimakure,
the paper's editor. Mr Gazi outlined his complaint to
the committee and also presented to the committee the ZIPRA
High Command as it was constituted before independence in
1980.
NewsDay
in defence said they verified the statement from which the
story was written from and believed the sources were authentic
Zipra commanders.
The committee
after reviewing the case and listening to both parties resolved
that it was important for NewsDay to give Mr Gazi space in
the newspaper to explain to the public the structure of the
Zipra High Command.
Both parties
agreed that it would be in the national interest for Mr. Gazi
who still had institutional memory to educate the nation on
the piece of history. Mr Chimakure indicated that he was prepared
to publish any material that Mr Gazi will present to the paper.
Mr Gazi indicated that he was happy with NewsDay giving him
an opportunity of presenting the proper Zipra structure.
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Dr
Kereke vs Daily News (3 January 2013, 7 January 2013, 23 January
2013)
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Dr Kereke
filed a complaint with the VMCZ over three articles published
by the Daily News on 3 January 2013, 7 January 2013 and 23 January
2013.
Dr Kereke complain that the articles published
are highly malicious of him and contain highly defamatory
falsehoods.
Dr Kereke complains that the stories are wholly
false as they imply that he is involved in vote buying yet
he is not involved in any such activity.
Dr Kereke further states that the three portray
him in bad light and affect his social standing in society.
Dr Kereke further states that he is aggrieved
as the stories allege that he is corrupt and that he should
be investigated for his donations implying that he might have
stolen the money.
Dr Kereke is also aggrieved that he was not
given a right of response to the allegations raised in the
three stories.
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Status: Pending
Both
Dr. Kereke and the Daily News, represented by Executive Deputy
Editor, Chris Goko appeared before the committee. Dr. Kereke
presented his case before the committee and said he wants
the daily News to apologise to him over the three stories
written.
In response
Mr Goko said his paper stands by the three stories published
and gave responses to issues raised by Dr. Kereke
However
the committee felt that the Daily News responses were not
adequate and ordered the paper to prepare detailed and itemised
responses to all issues raised by Dr. Kereke within a week.
Both parties,
Dr. Kereke and the reporter who authored the story, were ordered
to get a record of their communications for the month of January
2013 and avail to the committee.
The matter
was adjourned and will resume when both parties have availed
the committee with the required documents.
The committee
however received evidence produced by Dr. Kereke and will
be used in the determination of the case.
The Daily
News has however requested for an extension to the date for
handing over responses in the matter as they claim they have
challenges accessing required records from a mobile phone
operator.
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