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Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu issued a last warning to media organisations that were denigrating President Mugabe and the country’s leadership without justification.
He issued the warning yesterday while addressing mourners during the burial of former Harare province Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association vice chairman Cde Christopher Pasipamire at the Harare provincial Heroes Acre at Warren Hills cemetery.
Cde Pasipamire (54) whose Chimurenga name was Cde Muchadura succumbed to renal failure at a local private clinic on Saturday.
Said Minister Shamu: “Government has warned them twice and this is the last warning.
“There is no need for attacking the President or the leadership for no reason.
“This is an abuse of the freedom that has been given to them, the freedom brought by the likes of Cde Pasipamire.
“We will work together with the Zimbabwe Media Commission to revoke those licences because we cannot watch while the country’s leadership is assaulted.”
He said journalists should have national interests at heart.
Minister Shamu paid tribute to Cde Pasipamire, also a former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings board member, for the pivotal role he played in turning around the fortunes of ZBC.
“He came in at a time we entered this dysfunctional unity Government. That is when Treasury stopped funding ZBC and things were difficult.
“Using his skills together with others, ZBC has managed to survive without any support from Government.
“The team introduced various strategies to keep the national broadcaster going,” he said.
He said Cde Pasipamire has left a void that would be difficult to fill.
“It is our hope that we are going to work hard to fill in the gap that he has left.
“It is not easy to exhibit the courage that Cde Pasipamire showed, but I urge all the surviving comrades to carry on with the good work,” he said.
Zanu-PF Harare women’s league chair Cde Mary Chatibura described Cde Pasipamire as a dedicated cadre.
“I started working closely with him in 1980 and realised that he was a man on a mission.
“He worked for the party with zeal and I never had problems with him.
“He was a man of the people whom we shall always miss,” she said.
Cde Pasipamire was born on 3 April 1958 in Chirumanzu.
He did his primary education at Thornhill Primary School in Gweru and Kana Mission in Gokwe.
He then went to Kutama College and Hartzell Mission for his secondary education.
In 1977, he attended the then University of Rhodesia to read for a Bachelor of Administration Degree.
He abandoned his studies and crossed into Mozambique to join the liberation struggle in November 1978. Cde Pasipamire did his military training at Tembwe.
He worked with the Zanu-PF Commissariat and also taught at the party headquarters in Maputo.
He returned to Zimbabwe in 1980 and was one of the first black District Administrators in independent Zimbabwe. His work as a DA saw him serve in Harare, Seke and Gweru Districts.
When he left Government, he ventured into private business while also remaining active in party affairs.
He is survived by wife Petronella and three children.
Online Reporter