THE DAY SADOMBA CRIED

Sharuko On Saturday

IT was probably the toughest call I have been challenged to make as a journalist – do I pursue, or ignore, the whispers that there was turmoil in Edward Sadomba’s paradise?

For goodness sake, this is a nice guy who, over the years, has grown to be more like a brother to me in a relationship built on a foundation of trust and respect.

Respect for how we have both risen from tough backgrounds to find a way to pursue our dreams, negotiate the minefields and clear the hurdles, which life erected in our paths.

What we knew was that something was brewing at Sadomba’s home and, whatever it was, it had a lot of negative connotations and every effort would be made to try and keep it a secret.

For me, it was tough to believe it because, as far as I was concerned, Sadomba and his wife Sherlynn were a picture perfect couple.

And, there wasn’t the hard evidence which Editors demand for a story to be printed.

Given the high profile nature of the people in this saga, getting it wrong would destroy our reputation as a newspaper.

These are the kind of articles which, if it turns out that you didn’t get your facts right, can end up costing an Editor.

And, I didn’t want to be the latest victim in the long line of journalists who have been swallowed by this monster.

As Editor, you cultivate your sources.

The people you turn to for verification when in doubt and, while I was getting some bits of credible information, it wasn’t enough to compel me to run an article.

Weeks passed and still I resisted the urge to go for it.

Then, on Tuesday, everything changed when our sources told us that Sadomba and Sherylnn would be appearing at Mbare Magistrate Court.

That Sadomba arrived in the company of his lawyer sent this big message that, whatever it was, this was a case against him.

Then, our sources came to the party and they finally fed us with the information we had been looking for.

But, still, for me, the questions kept coming.

Was there enough justification, in terms of satisfying the interest of our readership, to run this story given that, at this point in time, it was largely going to be a one-sided narrative driven by Sherylnn and her advisers?

I then made the BOLD call for us to run the article because I trusted my sources.

And, I told myself that, in the event we get it wrong, I would be prepared to take the consequences, including the possibility I could lose my job.

IT WAS THE DAY SAMBOMBA CRIED

It was the day Sadomba cried, not because he was being weighed down by guilty conscience, but he knew he would be savaged in the court of public opinion.

By publishing the article, I sent a clear and bold message to Sadomba that, while he is my good young man, our relationship will not stand in the execution of my job.

When it comes to the abuse of women, not even a solid relationship can stand in the way of us casting a spotlight on this vice.

And, whether Sadomba is my young man or not, is totally irrelevant.

Actually, because of his status as a role model to millions of our kids, a guy like Sadomba should be treated in a tougher way than the others.

That is why his articles made front page news because they are meant to send the message that it is totally unacceptable for such role models to turn rogue and abuse their power by abusing women.

But, even as we published the articles, I have to make it clear that I never believed that Sadomba was the kind of guy who could abuse women, let alone his wife of 16 years.

Of course, what I believe in is irrelevant and cannot be used to spike articles.

And, that is why the Sadomba stories were published.

What is important for me is that I should remain cognisant of the fact that, for everything that has been thrown at Sadomba so far, the reality is that he is not yet guilty of any charge.

He is not guilty of abusing his wife, even though that’s what she claims, and has applied for a protection order from the Harare Civil Court.

Sadomba is not guilty of ill-treating his wife, even though he is facing such allegations in court, and while these are damaging allegations, it doesn’t mean that they are representative of the truth.

This can only be determined in court and not in the newspapers.

It’s up to the judges to decide, because they are competent on that front, and it’s not the job of tabloid newspaper Editors to pronounce a judgment on this.

Yes, Sadomba’s picture perfect image has suffered a battering this week.

But, for all the damage that this has inflicted on him, it isn’t enough for it to provide the basis for a conclusion to be reached that this fellow abuses his wife.

It’s a serious crime to abuse your wife or girlfriend and it should always come with serious consequences.

But, it’s also important for me, at this point in time, not to be seduced by the appeal of scandal.

And, unless proved otherwise, I have told myself that I should keep believing that there is a very good chance Sadomba isn’t guilty of the charges he is facing.

There is also a very good chance that he could be guilty.

That doesn’t mean that articles, accusing Sadomba of orchestrating such abuse, should not be published.

They have to be published, that’s the way journalism works, it’s something that is not influenced by my beliefs or my emotions.

For goodness sake, this newspaper’s Editor is a woman and any attempts to belittle issues like domestic gender violence is something that will be a personal attack on her.

IS THIS SADOMBA’S GIGGS MOMENT?

I have always liked Sadomba because I believe he is one of the few decent footballers we have in our country.

He is also loved by millions of Dynamos fans because he remains their hero and, until he is found guilty, I don’t see any reason why they should not continue to believe in him, and also love him.

The publication of the articles, and the accusations contained in those articles, do not in any way definitively conclude that, away from the spotlight, Sadomba was abusing his wife.

They do not in any way provide a definite conclusion that, away from the media spotlight, in which he projects himself as a very good man, Duduza is an evil guy who has perfected the dark arts where abuse of wives is celebrated as a reflection of true manhood.

They provide a suggestion but not a conclusion.

That is why, for all the negativity provoked by these scary accusations, I have chosen, not as an Editor but an individual, to give Sadomba the benefit of doubt until all the allegations made against him are tested and proven by a court of law.

I have done the same for his wife, in the wake of the bombshell revelations by Sadomba’s allies that the star was the one who was actually being abused because, at this moment in time, these claims have not been tested and proven to be true.

Either way, it doesn’t mean that these claims are not newsworthy and should, therefore, not be published.

Probably, it would have been virtually impossible to publish these accusations without Sherlynn taking the case to the courts, including seeking a protection order at the Civil Court.

Once she did that, the case became public property and it’s the media’s duty to ensure that the public is informed of what is happening in the lives of their celebrities.

To his eternal credit, Sadomba has been very understanding, even when our initial articles savagely attacked his reputation, that this is just part of our job,

He knows it also happened to Ryan Giggs, who faced similar accusations, and lost his job as Wales coach and was pushed out of Sky Sports, where he was a leading pundit.

But, last year, the storm ended for Giggs when all charges against him, including battering his girlfriend and her sister, were dropped.

Sadomba has a legion of fans at Dynamos, he is probably their biggest hero to emerge at the club since the turn of the millennium.

Many of them have been telling me that they are holding their breath, others are praying, and the common denominator of their wish-list is that, after this storm is over, their hero would be cleared of all these damaging allegations against him.

They will never forget one weekend in July, 2008.

On July 18, 2008, Sadomba’s sister, Portia died in Harare and plunged the forward’s family into mourning.

With a group match against ASEC Mimosas set for Rufaro, just two days later, Duduza’s participation in that must-win game was thrown into question.

But, Sadomba, in a remarkable commitment to the cause of his club, decided to leave the funeral ceremony, and go into battle against the Ivorians.

When he trooped onto the pitch that afternoon, it could not escape the attention of many that the body of his sister was, at that same time, still lying in state at his family home in Mbare — not far from where this game was being played.

And, as if driven by some supernatural powers, Sadomba scored both goals to give Dynamos a 2-1 victory, pregnant with emotions, on a defining afternoon at their spiritual home.

That DeMbare side went all the way to reach the semi-finals of that Champions League campaign.

These are the storylines that define heroes but that does not provide these heroes with immunity to do as they please, including abusing their wives.

The good thing is that this case is now in our justice system and we will know who is the hero and who is the villain.

To God Be The Glory! Peace to the GEPA Chief, the Big Fish, George Norton, Daily Service, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and all the Chakariboys still in the struggle. Come on Chegutu Pirates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zaireeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

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