Democracy = freedom of the press | Editors Column

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Democracy = freedom of the press

Written by The Editor

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 11:23

George Charamba needs to decide whether he is a civil servant, paid by the tax payer, or Zanu (PF)’s political commissar. He also seems to have an identity crisis as to whether he is a policeman, issuing threats to “send my boys to arrest journalists”, a tax collector, trying to squeeze every last cent from struggling businessmen, or just a common bully-boy who thrives on throwing his weight around.

Last week he threatened to arrest Barnabas Thondhlana if he should dare launch his daily newspaper without a licence - despite the fact that there is no licensing body at the moment.
He also accused The Zimbabwean of shipping money to “Wilf Mbanga’s political masters in the UK” and not paying taxes and NSSA contributions inside Zimbabwe.
First of all, we do not have masters. Unlike poor old George, who has to sing for his supper, we are our own masters. By his own admission, George is paid to make some people “look pretty”. We are not. Our sole ambition is to be a mirror of our society, warts and all.
The last time he and his political masters publicly denounced The Zimbabwean, his statements were speedily followed by the hi-jacking and burning of our delivery truck and 60,000 copies of The Zimbabwean on Sunday of 25th May 2008. Our investigations have revealed that the AK-47-toting hi-jackers were in fact members of the Masvingo CIO. Needless to say, as with the Daily News bombings and the murders of many MDC supporters, the ZRP’s investigative powers in this case have failed them yet again.
When The Zimbabwean appeared on the streets of Harare again the following week, George promptly donned his tax collector hat, and added a punitive 55% “luxury” tax to the 15% import duty we were already paying. We paid more than R3 million to ZIMRA during the following 12 months.
As for paying NSSA, Zanu (PF)’s policies have criminalised the practise of journalism, persecuting, beating and forcing journalists under-ground - making it impossible for them to be properly employed.
For the record, Charamba is paid to be the government’s public relations man. Whether he likes it or not, the government now includes the MDC, and is supposed to be moving towards democracy. That means a free press – free from bombings, bannings, burnings, threats, licenses and punitive taxes.

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