Lessons from Zimbabwe

THERE are cardinal lessons for South African journalists in events in neighbouring Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe has fired former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, an ally who has stood by him for more than 50 years.

For years some Zimbabwean journalists have batted for factions in the ruling Zanu-PF. It’s a dangerous game and the price to pay is heavy. Those who didn’t toe the line or showed any level of independence were hounded out.

At the heart of it is unethical journalism. We too have witnessed the disgusting spectacle by some within our profession of pushing those accused of state capture and their preferred candidates or those of their opponents.

Then there are those implacably opposed to the liberation movements, still promoting the racist cause.

Ethics have been sacrificed to push narrow factional interests as journalists willingly partake in factional wars.

They should take heed from Zimbabwe Independent editor Dumisani Muleya, who writes: “One of the biggest lessons which must be learnt by Zimbabwean journalists from the political fall and demise of former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa is that partisan and even embedded reporting is unprofessional, undesirable and unsustainable.

“After checking into caravans and jumping into the trenches to report the story from one side, for whatever reasons, partisan media hacks have discovered captive journalism does not work.

“Partisan reporting comes at a heavy price. This Mnangagwa saga has left some editors and reporters badly exposed and their reputations in tatters. Through partisan framing of issues and manipulation or deception, some wrote half-baked, distorted or even false stories (lies) to push ill-informed and unsustainable narratives on internal Zanu-PF power struggles and Mugabe succession.

“Yet, sticking to ethics, facts and the truth remains the best safeguard for professional and truth-seeking journalism. Journalists must remain above the fray.

“Hope we have learnt something from this sad chapter in Zim journalism and can go back to the basics to end polarisation and other deep-rooted problems in the profession, to restore credibility – our main asset or currency – and eroded public trust.”

The message is to us, too. We ignore it at our own peril. Members of the public are not fools.