Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Zvayi is a true patriot and matchless scribe – Charamba

Zvayi is a true patriot and matchless scribe – Charamba
Floyd Nkomo
Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:29:00 +0000

THE Permanent Secretary for Information and Publicity and presidential spokesman, George Charamba, says Caesar Zvayi, said deported journalist and former Herald political editor, is a true patriot and a matchless scribe who was amongst the current crop of true heroes of Zimbabwe. Zvayi was yesterday deported from Botswana where he was working as a lecturer after a spirited campaign by anti-Zanu PF activists to have him deported. He is a former political and features editor of The Herald, and was employed by the University of Botswana as a media studies lecturer.

Describing Zvayi as a ‘fearless writer’ Charamba said he was free to return home and “do what he does best”. Charamba also expressed shock and dismay at the journalistic fraternity for keeping quiet after a journalist and reporter had been deported for “speaking his mind” – a right journalists all over the world are fighting for.

He said the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists had lost direction and its glory during the days of people like the late Charles Chikerema, first president and founder member of the organisation.

Charamba also attacked the ZUJ and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) for failing to defend a true journalist like Zvayi saying they are subscribing to their western sponsors agenda where political activists are decorated.

Zvayi was recently added on a European Union sanctions list together with another journalist, Munyaradzi Huni, the political editor of The Sunday Mail.

Zvayi has maintained his position despite leaving The Herald. When news that a group of anti-Zanu PF activists in Botswana were running a campaign to have him deported, Zvayi issued a statement saying he was still a Zanu PF member and would never support the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party.

“I make no apologies for supporting Zanu PF because I subscribe to its Pan African values," Zvayi told The Botswana Gazette at the time.

“I will never support the (Movement for Democratic Change) MDC as currently constituted because to me it is a counter-revolutionary Trojan horse that is working with outsiders to subvert the logical conclusion of the Zimbabwean revolution,” said Zvayi.

President Ian Seretse Khama of Botswana is said to have personally signed the deportation order that led to Zvayi being ejected from that country. Khama has come under increasing pressure from opposition parties in Botswana for “ruling by decree”.

Labels: CAESAR ZVAYI

posted by MrK @ 9:57 AM