Journos should be objective: Pres Mugabe, DPM Khupe
Nancy Pasipanodya
Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:12:00 +0000
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe have urged journalists to be objective when reporting on the situation in Zimbabwe, in particular, and Africa in general.
President Mugabe and Ms Khupe were speaking at an inter-active debate with journalists in Munyonyo, Uganda where they are attending the Smart Partnership Dialogue in Uganda. The event entered its third and final day today.
President Mugabe urged journalists to work freely, not become 'agents' of news organisations like CNN and the BBC.
"There are agencies like BBC, CNN. When you act as agents (correspondents) of those kinds of media, do you have the option of being impartial?” he asked.
He said journalists should report freely without fear of losing their jobs and adhere to journalistic principles, rather than promote Western agendas masked in their sympathetic media.
Prolonged applause filled the hall as the president fired these questions.
“If they are pursuing a hostile attitude, do you protect the interests of Africa because you are Africans? Can you report truthfully or factually or do you fear losing your jobs?”
He urged African journalists not to serve neo-colonialist or imperialist interests.
He said journalists should do their work freely and avoid being hostile to leaders and their countries.
President Mugabe also told journalists that the inclusive Government formed in February is working well and that his relationship with PM Tsvangirai was very cordial and respectful, and commended Comesa and Sadc leaders for their support in the formation of the inclusive Government in Zimbabwe.
Other Presidents also commented on the work done by journalists on the African continent and reporting on the continent from abroad.
"Why are journalists always interested in telling bad stories about Africa as if there were no good stories to write about the continent?" asked Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.
"By painting the bad image of the continent you stop the good story from being told."
The host of the Dialogue, President Yoweri Museveni accused the media of specialising in "telling lies and writing about things they don't know."
Deputy prime minister Tokozani Khupe asked bluntly why media reports are always 'lopsided' and only seeking negativity.
"Why are media reports on Africa always lopsided? There are many success stories to talk about as well," said DPM Khupe.
DPM Khupe added that the Munyonyo Smart Partnership Dialogue which ends today in Uganda has been an eye-opener to her and other delegates from Africa on how the countries of the south can develop themselves.
She said her being part of the delegation has given her a chance to interact and discuss with others the challenges facing their respective countries.
"Zimbabwe can develop without external funding if the people work hard and add value to their resources," she added.
The President made the remarks after he and his counterparts officially launched the peace centre and committed themselves to non-aggression towards each other.
President Museveni, together with President Mugabe and the leaders of Tanzania, Zambia and Swaziland, as well as former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and former Botswana President Sir Ketumile Masire, drew wooden spears and pierced the ground to mark their commitment.
"I want to declare this place a peace shrine," President Museveni said.
"It can be used by the warring parties in Darfur even if they are not on our side politically. I hope the ICC will not ask us to arrest some people because they will be on neutral ground," he added in reference to the ICC prosecutors call to Uganda to arrest President Oma Al-Bashir if he attended the conference.
Omar Al-Bashir who was indicted over war crimes in Darfur, did not attend the conference.
* This report was compiled from various sources including Uganda's New Vision newspaper from whom the image was sourced.
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