Parties: Temba Mliswa V/s The Zimbabwe Morning Post (February 2021)

Nature Of Complaint

Hon Temba Mliswa lodged a complaint with the Media Complaints Committee over an article carried by The Zimbabwe Morning Post on 01 February, 2021 headlined “A three-month relationship made in hell: Philanthropist in messy breakup with Temba Mliswa.” Hon Mliswa says the article posted is libelous and complains that he was not afforded the right of reply when the article was published. Hon Mliswa says the article is one sided and breaches journalism ethics which calls for a right of reply to al the parties in a story. He says the story lacked factual information and wants Zimbabwe Morning Post to retract the story and offer an apology.

Procedures: Full Adjudication of the Matter

The matter went to a full adjudication after Zimbabwe Morning Post defenders its story as being factual. At the adjudication meeting Hon Mliswa outlined inaccurate issues identified in the story. Key among those was the fact that he was not given a right of reply when serious allegations were raised against him. Hon Mliswa also cited that issues that he felt were inaccurate. Hon Mliswa indicated that claims that he owned a flat in Avondale were untrue as he did not own any property in Avondale. Hon Mliswa indicated that he is also entitled to a right of reply on the allegations raised against him in the article. Zimbabwe Morning Post conceded that there was a need to give Hon Mliswa a right of reply but indicated that he was not available when the news website contacted him. The Media Complaints Committee argued that with allegations raised, the Zimbabwe Morning Post should have held onto their story until they had got a comment and response from Hon Mliswa.

Status: Resolved

The Committee ruled that Hon Mliswa was entitled to a right of reply. In deliberations after both side presentations, Zimbabwe Morning Post conceded that there was a need to give Hon Mliswa a right to reply before publication of the story. Zimbabwe Morning Post offered to publish an apology and give Hon Mliswa a right of reply in their next edition. The Zimbabwe Morning Post also indicated that they would remove the story from their website and social and online media platforms.