Publishers, editors and journalists on 24 September 2018 engaged senior Zanu PF officials in the Midlands town of Kwekwe following cases of intimidation and threats issued against local journalists by some members of the governing party.
The meeting which was spearheaded by MISA Zimbabwe Kwekwe Advocacy Chairperson, Kudakwashe Zvarayi, was attended by Zanu PF Midlands spokesperson Cornelius Mpereri and the party’s Kwekwe youth chairperson, Tawanda Muto.
According to Zvarayi, the meeting focused on the safety of journalists while covering political stories relating to Zanu PF following threats issued against journalists by some members of the party.
Mpereri urged the media to report any cases of intimidation by members of his party to him saying his office was open to journalists who want to verify their stories. “Reporters should always contact me for verification of facts. I urge journalists to be objective and ethical when reporting (their stories),” he said.
“It was resolved … that journalists in Kwekwe should report responsibly and objectively and that media ethics must be adhered to when writing stories,” said Zvarayi.
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