Why are Zimbabwean journalists so cruel to themselves?

Mandiwanzira seems to have provided the answer at a conference to discuss media freedom organised by the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe in March.

“A lot of the censorship comes from the journalists themselves; a lot comes from the editors; a lot of the censorship comes from the owners of the media themselves. Trust me, there will be no article that attacks Mandiwanzira on ZiFM Stereo even if I have done something wrong,” he was quoted by Newsday as saying is response to sentiments by Alpha Media Holdings managing director Vincent Kahiya that governments in Southern Africa were paying lip service to media freedom to appease Western donors.

Mandiwanzira owns ZiFM as well as Faya FM and Gogogoi FM.

“Government hardly censors anybody. There are people who would not write about Econet because they are afraid of losing advertising. There are certain institutions you can’t write on because you will lose advertising,” he added.

This begs the question: Why is Zimbabwean media not writing about the Financial Gazette deal?

Gideon Gono has lost the political and business clout that he once had.

Jethro Goko does not have the financial or political clout either.

Then who?

Food for thought, especially today, Workers’ Day.

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