17 February 2022
Shamila Ntokozo Mdlongwa
ZIMBABWE’s only television station and sister radio broadcaster, ZBC is under fire on the blogging site Twitter, after a publication of a false story on suspended Harare Mayor.
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, ZBC News wrote a story on suspended Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume headlined; “Jacob Mafume on the run” which was posted on their official Twitter page.
The alleged defamatory story was about Mafume’s pending case before the tribunal set up by Minister of Local government July Moyo.
Mafume has been suspended numerous times on allegations of gross misconduct, incompetence and willful violation of law.
He is allegedly to have gone back to office and claimed to be in charge at the Town House while the Acting Mayor Stewart Mutizwa had taken over the reigns of power thereby accused of interfering with the Harare City Council’s operations.
ZBC wrote:
“The Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Province, Mr Tafadzwa Muguti also said Mafume was on the wrong side of the law.
“This is in breach of the law. We cannot have two mayors and the case of Mafume is disturbing because what we know is that he is not supposed to report for duty as he has a pending case before the tribunal set by minister July Moyo,” said Muguti.”
Mafume disputed these accusations of supposedly interfering with the runnings of the Harare City Council and “being on the run” while he has a pending case at the tribunal with Min. July Moyo on Twitter saying:
“This is defamatory, where are you getting this?I was at court the whole day in Court 15 at Rotten Row ,will instruct my lawyers accordingly if this is not corrected. Consider yourself notified of my intention to sue!”
Honourable Dexter Nduna also responded to Mafume’s tweet saying:
Maybe you went to court running. Try walking don’t panic you were a public figure look at what is said about me by opposition news papers
Other tweets accused the publication of publishing false news and some encouraged the Mayor to sue the publication.
It is of major concern that a publication like ZBC would right false news for its readers.
ZBC news has not deleted the post nor taken down the story.
Zim GBC news
Classified Ads
For:
Bookeping services, Accounting services
- ZIMRA TAX clearance
-ZIMRA Audits
Payroll services,
Human resources,
Labour issues