[UAH] DOES THIS SOUND LIKE UGANDA'S FDC AND WALK TO WORK? Just asking !!!!!

MDC-T barbarism, intolerance reach alarming levels

 

Wednesday, 19 June 2013 00:00

Fortious Nhambura On June 7, Zimbabwe Independent journalist Herbert Moyo was attacked by MDC-T members while covering a demonstration at the party’s Harvest House headquarters. The attack came barely 24 hours after Chronicle senior reporter Mashudu Netsianda was harassed by party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai’s bodyguards who seized his notebook before deleting recordings he had made on his mobile phone. Their crime was doing their work. The attack came barely a month after Mr Tsvangirai, who is Prime Minister in the inclusive Government, threatened to deal with dissenting voices in the local media. Addressing the party policy conference recently, Tsvangirai vowed to make the life of journalists and media organisations difficult. He was quoted: ‘‘You cannot have a newspaper with six articles saying Tsvangirai this and Tsvangirai that. Everyday! Regai vakadaro. But musi umwe gava richadambura musungo (Leave them like that, but one day all hell will break loose). That kind of media has no future in a democratic Zimbabwe. I want to tell you this, muchadya izvozvo (you will face the music).’’ I wonder whether these attacks aren’t what Mr Tsvangirai was warning the media about. The coincidence is too obvious and journalists wonder what is going to happen in the run-up to the elections. Unfortunately, Mr Tsvangirai’s utterances came in the wake of increasing calls for peace during the forthcoming elections. While President Mugabe and Zanu-PF have been on the forefront calling for an end to violence, Mr Tsvangirai decides to promote violence. Could he be reminded that the slogan for the coming elections is “Peace begins with me, Peace begins with you, Peace begins with all of us”. While the other parties are calling for peace, the MDC-T has actually upped its call to violence. Most disturbing is the fact that the call for violence against the media came from the highest office in that party, a man who has had an opportunity to work with architects of peace like the late Vice President John Nkomo. It is now clear that the only Press coverage permitted under MDC-T thinking is that which is favourable to the party regardless of events. We thought the four years in Government had taught Mr Tsvangirai and his party the importance of tolerance to opposing voices and particular the Press. But as the recent attacks have shown, the party has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. The party is still as intolerant as when it was launched in 1999, remember the chasing away of journalist deemed unfavourable on the party inaugural congress in Chitungwiza. Calling for violence against media practitioners shows how intolerant Morgan Tsvangirai and his party are. It is ironic that the attacks are coming from a party that claims to be a champion of free press. What media freedom does the party harp about? By shutting off the journalist, MDC-T is denying society the right to know what is happening in the party and pretend all is well. That is indeed denying us media freedom. According to Brian C. Anderson and Adam Thierer media freedom is being able to speak one’s mind without restraint, and without the threat of bureaucrats telling us what is “fair.” If that is what the MDC-T has been advocating how then does it justify their latest effort to muzzle the media in the country. They want media freedom yet they are unwilling to accept criticism. Mr Tsvangirai and his supporters must now warm up to the fact that media is never going to fold its hands when the burning in that party. MDC-T wants to prevent the media from taking stock of what the party has been doing in Parliament and Government so that people remain in the dark. They are aware that the chicken are coming home to roast, otherwise why try to block the flow of information to the people they want to vote then into power? If Zimbabwe is to have transparent elections, journalists should be allowed to do their jobs undeterred and report on any traverse of justify by those in authority and political parties. But what the MDC is doing is simply denying the people of Zimbabwe that right by denying one and the most critical conduit of information from feeding the public. If Zimbabwe is to have transparent elections, journalists should be allowed to do their jobs undeterred and to report on any happening country without fear and favour. But what the MDC is doing is simply deny the people of Zimbabwe that right by denying one and the most critical conduit of information from feeding the public. The party’s attack on journalists and violating press freedom means the party is a danger to the democraticisation of the media space in Zimbabwe. It is high time the society is frank with the MDC-T leadership and its supporters that you don’t correct your evident mistakes by killing the media and strangling the journalist. The party should know that the journalist is the eye and mouthpiece of the society. Society has seen the violence that is part of the fabric that makes you, remember your origins are marked in the destructive mass demonstration of 1998, the community has seen the puppetry in you, the lies and lack direction that is part of your gene and what the journalist is only doing is reminding you that you are losing the plot. Please don’t kill the messenger, the journalist, he or she is only telling the party that you are dancing clumsily in front of the elders. Cde Chihuri, arrest these hooligans — batai vanhu.

 

 

           Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
           Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"