The VMCZ Media Complaints Committee received a complaint from Wilbert Mandinde over a story carried by the NewZimbabwe.com on 9th July 2014 headlined “Gukurahundi: Tell us who was mad, Mugabe challenged”.
The complainant expressed concern over several aspects of the story which he feels are misleading.
Among the various issues raised by Mr. Mandinde, he stated that there was no representative of the MDC renewal team at the meeting as allegedly implied in the news story; that the news story attempted to give current meaning to a quotation he cited from an article he penned for MISA in 2006; and that aspects of wording in the story could also be construed as reference to his employer, the Law Society of Zimbabwe when this was not the case. Mr. Mandinde also expressed concern at the alleged attempt to link his statements to what leaders of the Renewal Team are alleged to be saying on the matter of compensating victims of Gukurahundi.
Mr. Mandinde is therefore demanding a retraction; and an apology to himself and the Zimbabwe Law Society for the harm caused.
STATUS: Pending
The NewZimbabwe.com editor Gilbert Nyambabvu in his response restated the online portal’s commitment to professional journalistic standards, willingness to take responsibility for ethical lapses when they occur and to engage the complainant.
Mr. Nyambabvu also provided an outline of the online site’s response to the specific complaints raised by Mr. Mandinde.
Mr. Nyambabvu’s communication has since been forwarded to the complainant before the Media Complaints Committee can make a decision on the matter.
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