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Mahoso has no place in the media reform agenda
Movement for Democratic Change
May 20, 2010

The MDC condemns the engagement and involvement of prominent media hangman Tafataona Mahoso in the reform of the media industry currently being spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Media Commission. We feel strongly as a party that Mahoso has no place in a reform agenda. His tenure as the chairperson of the now defunct Media and Information Commission is littered with graves of independent newspapers and radio stations. His legacy as a proponent of a shackled media industry speaks for itself. Zimbabweans urgently deserve media reform in fulfillment of the provisions of the Global Political Agreement and the national aspiration to democratize our national space. In this new era of reform, there cannot be any room for decorated media hangmen such as Mahoso.

Yesterday's enemies of press freedom cannot be today's ambassadors of media reform. Dusk and nocturnal characters who celebrated gagging people's voices cannot be associated with the new dawn of democracy, media plurality and diversity. Engaging Mahoso in saving our media is like employing an undertaker as a nurse in a hospital. As an undertaker, Mahoso was preoccupied with burying independent media voices and he cannot be expected to save and nurse the life of our media industry.

Zimbabweans demand movement in the current national chorus to diversify and liberalise the platforms on which the people can debate and share ideas. We celebrate diversity. Three months after its inception, the Zimbabwe Media Commission should ensure that Zimbabweans have access to new newspapers, television and radio stations so that the people make informed choices. Such important national assignments cannot be spearheaded by those who only yesterday bombed and closed independent newspapers and radio stations.

Zimbabweans deserve real change. They want media plurality and reform because access to information is the real currency of democracy.

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