Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development minister Jonathan Moyo has contradicted the narrative by President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson seeking to bar the media from covering the security sector.
“It’s wrong to say some sectors are outside media coverage,” Moyo said in a twitter post.
“Nothing is above the Constitution. It’s the law, stupid!”
Moyo’s assessment is in stark contrast to what Charamba and Information minister Chris Mushohwe said in a recent acerbic and chilling warning to journalists.
Charamba has said should the media continue to write on the security sector, journalists would find themselves at the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare.
“If you do not heed the advice, then we will descend on you heavily,” he warned grimly.
“The ministers warned you and quote me on this; we will use other instruments to make sure you stop reporting on military issues.
“I have defended journalists as my colleagues several times, but be warned this time we will descend on you.
“We will be looking for your military sources while you are locked up at Chikurubi. I am warning you as my colleagues.”
Media experts said the statements by Charamba and Mushohwe must be considered with utmost seriousness, adding any sort of honeymoon period for media-government relations was over.
Media expert Takura Zhangazha said where the carrot was used during the State-sponsored Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (Impi) era; from now on it appears the stick will be government’s engagement method of preference.
“These threats obviously have a chilling effect on any journalist,” Zhangazha said.
“Its implications point to an arbitrary intention to imprison journalists both as punishment and as a way of violating their principle of protection of sources.” Daily News
