The Media Complaints Committee received a complaint from Mr Perekedzai Takawira over an article carried by the Chronicle newspaper on 3 February 2015, headlined “Woman axes junior wife, hangs self”.
Mr Perekedzayi is aggrieved as he says the newspaper misleadingly reported on the circumstances leading to the death of his wife – alleging that there was an argument and misunderstanding between the first and second wives on 23rd January, leading to the former committing suicide.
Mr Perekedzayi says there was no misunderstanding between the parties as alleged in the article. He is therefore seeking a retraction and apology from the newspaper.
Status: Finalised
The VMCZ wrote to the Chronicle over the complaint. Chronicle Deputy Editor,Mr Innocent Madonko, in his response says the newspaper fairly and accurately reported on developments as they happened.
He said the newspaper’s reportage that there was a dispute between the two wives which resulted in the first wife axing the second wife and subsequently hanging herself is proof that there was a misunderstanding in the family. Mr Madonko also indicated that the information the newspaper published was also corroborated by a relative to the family, Mr Rafael Motombiwa.
The complainant reiterates that the family source quoted in the story is not reliable and therefore his version of events is incorrect. He also is aggrieved that he was not given the right of reply in the matter.
The MCC after instigating its own independent investigations into the case and through corroboration with the police concluded that the newspaper reported accurately on the disputed circumstances leading to the tragedy and therefore did not breach the code of conduct.
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