Zimbabwean-born Al Jazeera Africa correspondent torches a storm

Al Jazeera’s Zimbabwean-born Africa correspondent Haru Mutasa has torched a storm after tweeting that journalists must not be used to push the narrative of the West.

This was after she tweeted yesterday: “Attack me all u want …. but as media ask yourselves why countries like Britain, US, France, Germany want to push a certain narrative ….. we are often used, lets change it as media, not be manipulated all the time.”

One of the first people to reply said Mutasa must put what she had said into practice by joining the Herald or the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and then start patriotic reporting.

“Wow greatest minds there cde, Now we do not want people who just talk but those who do practical. How about you leave @AJEnglish and start work @HeraldZimbabwe or @ZBCNewsonline and then start patriotic reporting? You can lead by example cde,” said one Farai Shawn Matiashe.

‏Gerald Maguranyanga agreed with Mutasa saying: “You being sarcastic but she’s being factual. I lived in the UK for yrs early in my youth. Awoke to many TRUE realities & dumped long-held fantasies. I transformed into a super-patriot.  We’ve issues with our GVT. Indeed. But let’s NOT parrot a foreign agenda.”

When told by trade unionist Raymond Majongwe, “Gerry we all super patriots but not morons”, Maguranyanga responded: “You’re right. We can’t be morons. That’s why I insisted we all had issues with our GVT. Ray, you’d never believe the levels at which I VIGOROUSLY engage with GVT and contest for solutions to better our country. But as a rule, I DO NOT rubbish ZIM to foreigners.”

Some said that Mutasa was sucking up to the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front like former journalists Supa Mandiwanzira and Trevor Ncube because she was eyeing Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi’s job.

One going by the name African simply tweeted: “Thinking is not for everyone.”

Zimbabwe has been under intense attack since last month’s anti-government protests which turned violent leading to massive looting and burning of property as well as several people being killed and raped when the security forces cracked down on the protesters.

Opposition parties and civic organisations have called for international intervention while ZANU-PF says the anti-government protests were part of a planned regime change agenda.

(1230 VIEWS)