Ray Kaukonde Vs DailyNews (10 January 2014)
Mr. Ray Kaukonde through his lawyers filed a complaint with the VMCZ over a story published by the Daily News on 11 January 2014 entitled “Tycoon’s land trial stalled”.
Mr. Kaukonde is aggrieved and says the article insinuates he was involved in fraud involving the sale of land in Mashonaland East
Mr. Kaukonde says he was never involved in the sale of the land and the claims are defamatory
Mr. Kaukonde says he wants a correction of the article and an apology over the insinuation that he was involved in fraud.
STATUS: MEDIATED BY PARTIES
The matter was brought to the Media Complaints Committee (MCC) but no adjudication took place. Mr. Kaukonde through his lawyers indicated that he has engaged with the Daily News on the case, to seek recourse outside the Media Complaints Committee.
The Media Complaints Committee allowed the parties to engage on the matter.
Dr. Munyaradzi Kereke Vs Daily News (13 January 2014)
Dr. Munyaradzi Kereke filed a complaint with the Media Complaints Committee over an article published by the Daily News on Sunday 12 January 2014 headlined: “Kereke drags in Ministers, police”.
Dr. Kereke, in his, states that the article contained falsehoods by alleging that he accused the police, the army and the CIO of receiving money from former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Gideon Gono, in his submissions to the Constitutional Court.
Dr. Kereke complains that the paper deliberately misinformed the public in the hope of inciting hostility against him. Dr. Kereke wants the Daily News to retract the alleged falsehoods and issue an apology to him. Furthermore, Dr.Kereke wants the paper to publish his letter of complaint
STATUS: MEDIATED BY PARTIES
The Media Complaints Commission received Dr. Kereke’s complaint.
Dr Kereke’s lawyers indicated that they have engaged with the Daily News and were dealing with the matter privately.
Masvingo Drama Circle Management Vs The Zimbabwean (17 January 2014)
The Media Complaints Committee received a complaint from the Masvingo Drama Circle Management against The Zimbabwean over an article headed “ZANU supporters take over theatre” published by the paper on 7 January 2014.
The Masvingo Drama Circle Management is aggrieved because it alleges the story carried by the newspaper was based on interviews that never existed between the reporter and any of their employees.
The Masvingo Drama Circle Management therefore feels that the article is meant to “damage its standing” in the community and politically.
STATUS: FINALISED
The Media Complaints Committee invited both parties to a hearing on the matter.
Both parties during mediation by the Media Complaints Committee reached consensus that a follow-up story by The Zimbabwean highlighting current developments in the Masvingo Drama Circle would suffice as remedy given the time lapse between the initial news story published and the filing of the media complaint.
Compliance: The Zimbabwean is yet to publish a follow up story.
Masvingo Drama Circle Management Vs Masvingo Mirror (17 January 2014)
The Media Complaints Committee received a complaint from the Masvingo Drama Circle Management against The Zimbabwean over an article headed “ZANU supporters take over theatre” published by the paper on 7 January 2014.
The Masvingo Drama Circle Management is aggrieved because it alleges the story carried by the newspaper was based on interviews that never existed between the reporter and any of their employees.
The Masvingo Drama Circle Management therefore feels that the article is meant to “damage its standing” in the community and politically
STATUS:FINALISED
The Masvingo Drama Circle Management and Masvingo Mirror appeared before the Media Complaints Committee. The Masvingo Drama Circle Management presented its case to the committee and requested for an apology and retraction from The Mirror.
The Media Complaints Committee in its judgment found that:
*The Mirror’s headline was inappropriate and did not reflect the story published as there was no evidence of sex orgies in the story.
*The Mirror misrepresented that the Masvingo Drama Circle chairperson, Mr. Masarira was a bar chairperson when he was not.
*The Media Complaints Committee ruled that the mirror must publish an apology and a retraction on the story in its next edition.
Compliance: The Mirror subsequently carried a retraction and an apology on the matter in its edition of 28 March, 2014
Mr. Tafadzwa Musarara Vs Zimbabwe Independent (24 January 2014)
Mr. Musarara filed a complaint with the Media Complaints Committee over an article published by the Zimbabwe Independent of November 29, 2013 titled “Musarara fails to pay travel agents US$1 861.00”.
Mr. Musarara says the story is false and malicious and that the report was not balanced as he was not given right of reply in the story
Mr. Musarara also says he complained to the Zimbabwe Independent after the publication of the story but the two follow-up stories in the paper did not retract the issues raised or carry his lawyer’s comments.
Mr. Musarara wants the initial story removed from the website, and an apology for the damage to his character and reputation.
STATUS: APPEAL
The Zimbabwe Independent and Mr. Musarara met to amicably resolve the issue and the Zimbabwe Independent agreed to write a follow-up story highlighting that Mr. Musarara won the appeal and giving him right of reply.
The Media Complaints Committee also ruled that Mr. Musarara should avail the Zimbabwe Independent with a write up from his lawyer capturing his side of the story and the Zimbabwe Independent was to publish the lawyer’s statement
The Zimbabwe Independent in its next two editions carried follow-up stories on the matter but did not publish comments by Mr. Musarara’s lawyer and an apology
The Media Complaints Committee Chairperson Justice Smith has since written to the Zimbabwe Independent to comply with the judgment but the Zimbabwe Independent has also raised an ethical issue over the apology
Compliance: The case will now be reviewed and finalized by a reconstituted review panel after failure by both parties to reach consensus
Mrs Padzarondora Vs Radio Zimbabwe (4 February 2014)
Mrs. Padzarondora filed a complaint with the VMCZ against Radio Zimbabwe concerning a radio programme broadcast by the station every Saturday between 03:00-05:00am.
Mrs. Padzarondora complained that the programmes discusses issues that are too explicit to be aired on a national radio such as Radio Zimbabwe
Mrs. Padzarondora feels the fact that most callers sound youthful is a cause for concern as far as ethical and moral values are concerned
Mrs. Padzarondora says she wants Radio Zimbabwe to monitor programmes that are aired on radio.
STATUS: FINALISED
The VMCZ and the complainant engaged Radio Zimbabwe to discuss the matter.
The VMCZ Secretariat and the complainant met with Radio Zimbabwe Chief Producer Mr. Cain Chikosha to deliberate on the issue and the station indicated that it welcomes listener feedback and explained that the programme in question was also being internally reviewed and monitored to address concerns such as the one raised by the complainant.
Harry Davies Vs The Herald (30 January 2014)
Mr. Harry Davies filed a complaint with the VMCZ over a story published in the online edition of The Herald of 29 January 2014 titled, “Keep your Brian Adams, we keep our Warriors”.
Mr. Davies complains that the story is racist, factually incorrect and contains hate speech and incites violence against white people.
STATUS:FINALISED
The VMCZ engaged The Herald over the complaint.
The Media Complaints Committee also drew The Herald’s attention to constitutional provisions concerning equality and non discrimination and also prohibiting hate speech
The Herald in its response to the Committee indicated its willingness to engage the complainant and the complainant agreed to the engagement with the Herald
The Committee also wrote to the Herald expressing concern over the coverage and bringing to light constitutional issues on racism.
Martha Mashonganyika Vs DailyNews (11 February 2013)
Ms. Martha Mashonganyika filed a complaint over a report entitled ‘Makandiwa’s private life exposed’ carried by The DailyNews on 7 February, 2014.
Mashonganyika feels aggrieved that the report was “misleading” as it gave an account of the Pastor’s ‘clean taxpaying businesses’ and was not at all related to exposing his private life as ‘purported’ in the headline
Ms. Mashonganyika further states that the intention was to undermine and harm the reputation of Prophet Makandiwa and raise false alarm to the public.
STATUS:FINALISED
The VMCZ Secretariat engaged the Daily News on the case
The Daily News after engaging with the VMCZ and the complainant reiterated its commitment to professionalism and public accountability but defended its story and the headline saying they satisfied set professional standards.
The Daily News however invited the complainant to submit an opinion piece on religious issues and on his position on the matter and the newspaper promised to publish the article on submission.
Compliance: The Complainant submitted the opinion piece which was published in full in the Daily News edition of 22 March 2014.
Geoffrey Nyarota Vs DailyNews (28 February 2014)
2nd APPEAL
Mr. Nyarota appeared before a review panel, for a second appeal on the matter, to present his side over a story published by the Daily News on 18 March, 2011 headlined “We are Back”.
This was a second appeal by Mr. Nyarota after two consecutive appearances on May 20, 2011 and 21 November 2012.
Mr. Nyarota reiterated that the Daily News at its re-launch should have clarified to its readers that he was no longer the editor of the paper, adding that the VMCZ should have also ensured speedy resolution of the matter.
STATUS:FINALISED
The review panel in its judgment upheld the decision by the Appeals Committee in December 2011 noting that while the Daily News had not breached the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics, there was need for the newspaper to set the record straight by clarifying to its readers that Mr. Nyarota was not part of the re-launch team.
The panel also noted that given the time lapse involved, it would be pointless to request the Daily News to issue a clarification now but a clarification would suffice
The VMCZ also apologized to Mr. Nyarota for the time lapse in resolving the matter.
Patience Zirima Vs DailyNews (7 March 2014)
Ms. Zirima lodged a complaint with the VMCZ over pictures published by the Daily News of 5 March, 2014 on page 17.
Ms. Zirima says she is concern that the pictures published are gory and not fit for public consumption.
STATUS: PENDING
The Media Complaints Committee has written to the Daily News over the issue and has invited Ms. Zirima to appear before the Media Complaints Committee.
Prophet Uebert Angel Vs News Day (12 March 2014)
Prophet Angel filed a complaint with the VMCZ over two articles published in the News Day editions of 24 and 25 February respectively headlined: “I am ZANU PF – Uebert Angel declares” and “Uebert Angel torches storm”
Prophet Angel in his complaint argues that the headline to the story is misleading as he never said words attributed to him nor did he make any declaration on his political allegiance
Prophet Angel also argues that use of his former surname (Mudzanire) is illegal
STATUS: FINALISED
After hearing from both parties and viewing a video footage of the birthday celebrations in which Prophet Angel made the alleged statements, the Media Complaints Committee ruled that: News Day should apologise to Prophet Angel for the misleading headline as he did not directly utter statements attributed to him.
News Day apologised to Prophet Angel in is edition of 29 March, 2014
Gift Mpofu Vs Southern Eye (14 March 2014)
Mr. Mpofu filed a complaint with the VMCZ over an article carried by the Southern Eye of 10 March, 2014 headlined: “Construction Industry Cries Foul”
Mr. Mpofu says that the news story contains a number of inaccuracies. He further claims he never made the statements attributed to him and neither did he provide the statistics cited in the article.
Mr. Mpofu wants an apology for the allegedly false information which he feels has also tarnished his image.
STATUS: PENDING
The Media Complaints Committee has since written to the Southern Eye over the complaint.
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