Mudenda blasts media

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, has blasted the media for concentrating on the non-existent G40 and Lacoste factions in Zanu-PF at the expense of bread and butter issues.

Mudenda said he was disappointed about the continuous copious reports on the fictitious G40 and Lacoste, saying people were tired of reading such articles.

He was addressing media practitioners and civic society organisations in Bulawayo during a public engagement organised by the Parliament of Zimbabwe.

“We’re tired of G40 and Lacoste being written about in the papers on a daily basis. We want a media that is responsible and takes into account national interests. We don’t want gutter media where we buy papers every morning and find stories that have nothing to do with good governance.

“The country needs a robust media that must constructively build the nation. It has to distinguish itself from publications that are concerned about people’s personal lives and conflicts,” said Mudenda.

He said the media had a role to play in promoting peace and tolerance among different groups in society, not to promote violence.

“The reports go to the extent of mentioning which faction has the upper hand and we wonder where that information is coming from. The more you write about G40 and Lacoste, the more the mentioned people are at each other’s throats. Let’s be responsible in our reporting.

“It doesn’t construct Zimbabwe to emphasise political differences. Let’s focus on the reduction of differences in our society. The voice that we must hear is one condemning violence not to write which one has the upper hand,” said Mudenda.

He gave an example of a report in the private media on the late liberation war heroine Esphina Nhari who died in an accident last week, saying it showed gross lack of respect.

“When Nhari died there was a story which claimed that G40 had killed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally. Let’s have a sense of sanctity of life. Where is the proof that G40 killed Nhari?” asked Mudenda, adding that journalists should instil a sense of tolerance in every political party.

The Speaker added that he recently raised concern over absenteeism from Parliament by legislators but was surprised there was no report on the issue in the press.

“Recently there were 39 MPs present in Parliament instead of 70 and I expressed disappointment over the issue. I was more disappointed the next day when there was nothing on my stance in the media but some article on Lacoste,” said Mudenda.

Last week, President Mugabe told Zanu-PF supporters in Gutu that there were no factions in Zanu-PF.

He said the party is a united group with vibrant internal democratic processes and the ability to correct wayward behaviour.