adminMr Mutasa was responding to claims from some circles — during a media workshop on election coverage organised by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Thursday — that publications in the stable were partisan in their coverage of issues.
The same circles also raised concern on the ownership of the media house arguing that it should not hold a view or support a common position.
“Zimpapers is a public listed company and anyone can buy shares. We are not funded by the Ministry of Finance. We are a stable guided by national interests which are one of our cardinal values and for that we make no apologies,” he said.
This, he said, was anchored on the history of the country, which is one of the intrinsic values the company protects.
His sentiments were also echoed by ZBC representative Mr Allan Ndoro Chiweshe who said the broadcaster was pushing a national agenda, which would serve the future generation adding that the inclusive Government was not funding digitalisation and upgrading of equipment in line with Sadc guidelines before the 2013 deadline.
ZEC chairperson Retired Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe said there was a need to rally people around a common interest for the nation.
He said the Global Political Agreement provided the basis for such rallying point.
“Leaders were very comprehensive when coming up with the GPA because it spells out what we consider as the common good of the country and its citizenry,” he said.
He said there was a need to create a platform where the issue would be discussed.
His deputy Mrs Joyce Kazembe said the country’s natural values were encapsulated in our history.
The media workshop, which ended yesterday, was attended by editors and chief executive officers of various media houses and experts on elections from ZEC and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Southern Africa (EISA).
Online Reporter