PM embroiled in bribery scandal

Sources said the PM enlisted the services of private newspapers to clean his public image by turning a blind eye on his transgressions while magnifying those of his critics.

Mr Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka dismissed the bribery reports as “utter rubbish” but sources close to the drama said the PM indeed paid some editors in exchange for favourable coverage.
“That is utter rubbish. The money disbursed to the PM’s Office is subject to accountability through the fiscus,” Mr Tamborinyoka said.

“We have to show receipts on how the money was used.”
But sources said the PM’s Office, working with some Western non-governmental organisations, funnelled lots of money in the coffers of the private media to rehabilitate the PM’s image.
Instead of attacking PM Tsvangirai, the private media was directed to target Zanu-PF, its allies and officials in Government.

Zimbabwe Media Commission chairperson Mr Godfrey Majonga said: “I cannot comment on that story because I have not seen it and there is no one who has submitted a written complaint about that story. In the absence of a written complaint, I will not comment on that story.”

Media Commissioner Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa said if it is established that the editors received bribes, such behaviour would be very unprofessional and should be condemned.
“If anyone received such kind of inducement, they should stand to be condemned for unprofessional behaviour,” he said.

“The media should report independently without due influence from anybody.”
If proved to be true, Ambassador Mutsvangwa said, the PM’s Office should as well be held accountable.

He said such cases should be reported to the ZMC for thorough investigation and appropriate action to be taken.
However, editors from private newspapers who spoke to The Herald yesterday denied receiving money from the PM.

Daily News editor Stanley Gama professed ignorance of the said project.
“I do not know anything about that. I saw that story for the first time on the ZBC website,” he said.

“What is surprising is that we are also getting the same accusations from the people in the MDC who are saying we are destroying their political careers.

“For you to say that we were ordered to write negative stories about Mr George Charamba (Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity) is not true. For the record, we have been communicating well with Mr Charamba. Whenever we want a comment from him, he has always been forthcoming.

“As far as I know, Mr Charamba is a civilised and professional person and I do not think he would want to be involved in this ridiculous story.”

Zimbabwe Independent editor Constantine Chimakure said he last met PM Tsvangirai in 2001 at his Eastgate offices.
“I am not allowed to speak on behalf of the company, but I can tell you that I last met PM Tsvangirai in 2001,” he said.

“Since then I have never attended even an MDC Press conference,” Chimakure said.
He said his newspaper stable was not in the habit of writing stories about PM Tsvangirai’s love life because they were of no consequence to national development.

NewsDay editor Brian Mangwende and Nevanji Madanhire of The Standard could not be reached for comment at the time of going to Press.

Financial Gazette editor-in-chief Hamandishe Saburi was also not reachable.