The VMCZ Media Complaints Committee received a complaint from StarBrite founder Barney Mpariwa over an article published by The Sunday Mail on 8th February 2015 headlined: “The dark side of Star Brite”.
Mr. Mpariwa is aggrieved as he says the article misrepresented facts. The complainant says the reporter did not double check facts and carried the following misleading facts alleging that Star Brite cheated a former contestant and finalist Amanda Manyowa of:
• A trip to the Victoria Falls;
• A recording contract with musician Oliver Mtukudzi;
• A mentorship programme with South African musician Dorothy Masuku and
Mr Mpariwa is aggrieved as he states that the article also falsely accuses him of making false promises to many contestants.
Status: Partially Resolved
Following engagement between Mr. Mpariwa and The Sunday Mail, the weekly newspaper on 15th February 2015 afforded the complainant an opportunity to respond to some of the issues he felt had been misrepresented in the initial article.
In the article headlined, “Star Brite: ‘We have no dark side’”, Mr. Mpariwa argued that he together with the artiste were quoted out of context. Responding to issues he felt had been misrepresented, his response in the newspaper highlighted the following:
• Only one music contract to record with music superstar Oliver Mtukudzi was available and had been taken up by the winner – hence the finalist quoted in the initial article was never entitled to such a contract as reported in the original article.
• That previous winners of the competition had gone on to succeed in life , with some of them, such as 2013 winner Trust Makurumure, now being landlords.
• That it is StarBrite that went out of its way to ensure the finalist, Amanda Manyowa, managed to get her mentorship with South African musician Dorothy Masuku
• He never lied or made any misrepresentations to any contestant, parents, winners and sponsors.
Although he is yet to provide fuller detail and feedback, Mr. Mpariwa indicates that his response has not been captured in a satisfactory manner in The Sunday Mail’s 15th February 2015 article.
Zimbabwe Peace Project vs The Herald (March 2015)
The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) registered its complaint with the Media Complaints Committee (MCC) over a story carried by The Herald on 16th February 2015 headlined, “Zim NGOs abuse $850million”.
Zimbabwe Peace Project states it is aggrieved as follows:
a) By the allegation that “There are more than 15 civil society organisations under investigation including … the Zimbabwe Peace Project led by Ms. Jestina Mukoko
…” b) that the article also suggests that ZPP has been involved in ‘regime change tactics’. The ZPP disputes this – saying it is misleading as the organisation has allegedly not received any funding from USAID in the period under review (2011 – 2014).
The organisation also states that it is not under investigation from any other funding partner and that all its audits by reputable companies in the period under review have not been qualified.
ZPP also states that it was not given the right of reply over the matter and is requesting The Herald to retract and apologise for the alleged falsehoods.
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