Tsvangirai launches newsletter to counter state propaganda
By Lance Guma
18 June 2009

Fed up with negative publicity emanating from state owned media outlets, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s office has launched a weekly newsletter updating people on the ‘progress and problems’ in government. The first run of the newsletter, made up of 40 000 copies, was distributed on Wednesday. “This is in line with the new governance culture of transparency and accountability, which is one of the key commitments of the global political agreement,” the newsletter read.

The Prime Minister’s office said the newsletter was an opportunity for people to air their views and opinions about the new inclusive government. The development however highlights the inability of the state owned media to embrace ZANU PF’s partners in the coalition government, and to report objectively on their efforts. Tsvangirai’s world tour, for example, has been projected as an ‘assignment from Mugabe’ for the Prime Minister to go and have targeted sanctions against the ruling elite removed.

Even after the unity deal was sealed in February this year the MDC has continued to receive negative coverage from the state media. Last week the MDC had to issue a denial after the Herald newspaper falsely reported that their Ministers had snubbed the recent COMESA summit. “The malicious fabrications betray the reality that there are some people in certain political parties who continue to abuse the state media to mislead the nation,” a party statement read. The MDC added that this was coming from people who wanted to derail the coalition.

This week MDC legislator for Mbizo, Settlement Chikwinya tabled a motion in Parliament calling on the Executive to bring before Parliament a repeal or amendment of any pieces of legislation that curtail media freedom. Chikwinya’s motion also raised concerns over the continued abuse of the state media. He called on Parliament and the Information Ministry to immediately constitute the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, and grant licences to other players in the field.

Newsreel spoke to Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition director Mcdonald Lewanika who noted that it was a bit strange for the Prime Minister to have to use a newsletter to counter media that was owned by the state. He however said the plus side of the move was that it showed Tsvangirai was pursuing a policy of being transparent in his work, something Lewanika felt was commendable. Asked why the state media continued to paint a negative image of the MDC, he said it was all about the next election and ZANU PF was not willing to build up Tsvangirai’s reputation.