Independent media takes back seat at Zanu PF Indaba

By Daniel Masawi 

State media, fronted by The Herald and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation  (ZBCtv) are devoting acres of space and airtime to the Zanu PF national people’s conference which began in the resort town of Masvingo yesterday, while independent newspapers, Newsday and Daily News, have  given the annual palaver a cool reception.

Some 7000 Zanu PF supporters are gathered at the Masvingo showgrounds for the conference which, according to the official programme, will be opened by President Robert Mugabe on Friday.

Conference proceedings began with a politburo meeting at the party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday. The meeting was covered mainly in the Herald and ZBCTV today while the other newspapers largely ignored the event. The conference entered its second day today with a central committee meeting this morning.

The party’s secretary for Administration, Ignatius Chombo told mostly state media journalists the Politburo meeting yesterday had touched on many topics “that have a bearing on people’s livelihoods”

“The  Secretary for Legal  Affairs Patrick Chinamasa, as Minister of Finance and Economic Development, gave  an update on Zim-Asset, a major highlight of which was the completion of the Tokwe Mukosi Dam on 12 December, 2016.” Chombo said.

He added that  Chinamasa had also reported on the widely criticized introduction of Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 which banned the importation of a wide range of goods  under the Control of Goods (Open General Import Licence) which he  claimed “had began to bear fruit  as seen in the proliferation of new companies  in the oil and packaging industries thereby creating employment.”

According to Chombo, Chinamasa also reported that “bond notes had been well received by the general public , a claim dismissed off-hand by analysts and political commentators who pointed to the protest demonstrations  and lawsuits that followed the announcement of the “surrogate currency.”

In his briefing to the press, which was not covered by the  independent media, Chombo said all disciplinary cases that had been  before his party’s Appeals and Review Committee had been dealt with.

“Cde Jacob Mudenda, on behalf of Vice-president and second secretary, Cde Phelekezela Mphoko, reported  on cases they deliberated on.  In his report, two members had their suspensions upheld, and one was expelled. Five others had their cases referred to the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) for further investigations.” Chombo said.