When religious beliefs clash with journalism principles

I heaved a sigh of relief when Barack Obama was inaugurated as the first black President of the United States on January 20, 2009. I am a black Zimbabwean, but it was not the fact that Obama was black that excited me. It was the exit of his predecessor, George Bush.

I had nothing against Bush, either. But I felt relieved when Bush stepped down because his departure was the fulfilment of a prophecy that had dogged me for six years pitting my journalism principles against my religious beliefs.

I had been a journalist for over 30 years then. I was, and still am, a member of the Zion Christian Church, a Zimbabwean-based Christian organisation that has spread its wings to neighbouring countries as well as to the United Kingdom and the United States.

A prophet from our church had said way back in 2003 that despite the country’s economic woes, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe would outlast his “enemies” who were calling on him to step down and had imposed sanctions on him and his top lieutenants.

The prophet did not name the “enemies” but Mugabe’s main adversaries at the time were John Howard of Australia, Tony Blair of the United Kingdom and George Bush.

Full story on my new blog about this kindle book.

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