Online Reporter
Fidelis Munyoro-Chief Reporter
The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has exposed a sensational and fabricated report of lies by the Zimbabwe Independent, which claimed that a staggering US$52 million in licence fees had mysteriously disappeared from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
The paper has since issued an apology.
On Friday, the Ministry condemned the article as “replete with unfounded allegations, falsehoods, and malicious insinuations,” branding it a poorly executed attempt to smear the ZBC and malign the integrity of President Mnangagwa.
The Ministry’s statement labelled the claim of a US$52 million shortfall as a “gross exaggeration and a complete fabrication.”
It clarified that the actual revenue collected from licence fees is nowhere near the thumb-sucked figure touted in the report.
“There has been no Government audit nor a forensic audit on this matter because no evidence of malpractice has ever been presented to warrant one,” the statement read.
It further emphasised that ZBC’s internal auditors have flagged no irregularities, leaving the Ministry to wonder which “phantom audit” the publication relied on to conjure such baseless claims.
The Ministry also dismantled the insinuation that President Mnangagwa would punish ministers for raising governance issues, calling it a reckless distortion of his character.
“To imply that the President would punish a Minister for uncovering wrongdoing is not only a gross misrepresentation of
His Excellency’s character, but a reckless attempt to create a false narrative of discord where none exists,” the statement read.
The reassignment of ministers, it added, is the President’s constitutional and administrative prerogative, exercised in the best interests of national development.
The Ministry voices its concern over the Zimbabwe Independent’s deliberate disregard for journalistic ethics.
The publication had been explicitly directed to channel its inquiries through the Permanent Secretary, Mr Nick Mangwana, but chose to ignore the directive.
“This direction was ignored because the intention was never to seek the truth, but to print a pre-determined, vindictive story. Furthermore, the claim that the reporter attempted to engage the ZBC CEO, Mr Sugar Chagonda, is a blatant lie. No such engagement took place,” the Ministry asserted.
The timing and tone of the article also drew sharp criticism, with the Ministry suggesting ulterior motives.
It hinted that the story may have been driven by individuals with failed agendas, possibly incentivised by financial inducements.
“It appears that this story was pushed into the public domain by individuals bitter about their own failed agendas, possibly acting through financial inducements and, as has been suggested, as cheap as a bottle of whisky,” read the statement.
The Ministry expressed dismay that a publication purporting to be credible could stoop to such levels, allowing itself to become a vehicle for “petty and sponsored character assassinations.”
The fallout from this journalistic debacle forced the Zimbabwe Independent to issue an unreserved apology to President Mnangagwa, the Ministry, and ZBC.
In her apology, Zimbabwe Independent editor Faith Zaba admitted that the story lacked verified evidence and contained insinuations that questioned the President’s integrity.
“We deeply regret that our article contained insinuations that may have been interpreted as questioning the integrity of His Excellency or suggesting impropriety in the exercise of his constitutional prerogatives,” wrote Zaba.
She further conceded that the central claim of US$52 million being unaccounted for was entirely baseless, acknowledging that no Government or forensic audit had unearthed such malpractice.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency, revealing that ZBC is scheduled for its regular audit in March 2026, with results to be tabled before Parliament.
“We will further ensure that the results of this audit are duly tabled before Parliament for scrutiny, in line with established legislative processes. The Ministry expects nothing less than full compliance from ZBC, as there is nothing to hide and public trust must be upheld,” the statement read.
The Ministry called upon media houses to uphold the principles of factual and balanced reporting, warning against the dangers of publishing divisive and destabilising stories.
“We urge media houses to adhere to the principles of factual and balanced reporting and to desist from publishing stories that seek to divide the nation, undermine its institutions, and destabilise State-owned entities,” it stated. The public, it added, should treat these baseless allegations with the contempt they deserve.
