Zimbabwe’s Information and Media Minister Jonathan Moyo who last week launched an engagement tour of various media houses in Zimbabwe, has reportedly appointed the UK based journalist Mduduzi Mathuthu to head the government’s largest Bulawayo newspaper, The Chronicle.
As junior journalists from The Chronicle began openly referring to Mr Mathuthu as their incoming editor, Zimbabweans received news at the weekend that the once feared Prof Moyo is providing a soft landing to prominent journalists.
While a comment from Mr Mathuthu was not forthcoming at the time of writing, his colleagues at NewZimbabwe.com professed ignorance on the exaggerated rumours splashing across the internet since Sunday.
Mathuthu is the founding editor of NewZimbabwe.com which is based in the United Kingdom.
However when contacted on Monday NewZimbabwe chief executive Jeff Madzingo, said he does not know of any appointments made to Mathuthu and the latter “has neither resigned from NewZimbabwe”. This rebuffed claims that Mathuthu was actually starting work at the Chronicle today Tuesday the 15th October as claimed by some which also turned out to be untrue.
Other rumours also flying across media houses claimed that NewZimbabwe.com had been bought by the government of Zimbabwe and was now part of the Zimpapers stable. It was further claimed that the chief executive together with the Deputy Editor Gilbert Nyambabvu had travelled to Zimbabwe where they were entertained at Meikles hotel and the handover performed there. However when contacted NewZimbabwe.com staff said Mr Nyambabvu did not travel to Zimbabwe at all and it was only Mr Madzingo who did so but it was a mere holiday visit and none of the things claimed ever transpired as they said. ZimEye can reliably confirm that Mr Nyambabvu did not travel to Zimbabwe as claimed.
Comment:
Whichever way the facts are, the reported appointment of Mr Mathuthu is believed to be a strategy to re-engage media personnel from various social persuasions rather than fighting them. In recent his weeks Jonathan Moyo who has returned into the front line of Zimbabwe politics has toured ZiFM, State Media offices and to the surprise of many The Daily News offices, a media house once bombed allegedly by state agents at a time when he was minister. Mathuthu himself was at the time a journalist for the same paper. Minister Moyo has been at the core of the ZANU PF government which has labelled private media houses as Western sponsored to destabilize Zimbabwe. However a recent survey has found that 60% of the online portals are independently funded by their private individuals who aspire to create and provide an alternative news platform to State controlled media.
13 Replies to “Jonathan Moyo Makes ‘Soft Landing’ For UK Journalist – Mduduzi Mathuthu”
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Rt.Hon.Jonathan Moyo,
Dear Sir, Kindly assist me with my newly-established Foundation for setting up Roadside Billboards, Posters, and Licence Plates. Also change of name of Lake Victoria and Victoria Falls to Lake Mogabe and Mogabe Falls.
newzimbabwe was started by moyo for zanu and mduduzi was a mere employee all along dont be fooled zanu is not as foolish as you read on the internet. They are very organised and clever this baba jukwa crap is also zanu pf. HOW LONG HAD POLE TRUSTED THIS PAPER
…amazing how most of us miss the point…MANDEVERE ARI KUCHENGETANA APA whilst they still can…nothing less…
It is reliably said that Mduduzi sold the paper to Jonathan Moyo and one CIO guy which resulted him being appointed the Chronicle editor. Scratch my back nd I will do likewise. But one wonders if it is the cause of the green paper which makes people lose morals overnight or something else. It is just amazing to say the least
Mduduzi is Baba Jukwa….
I feel let down, Mduduzi. I’ve suspected you were Zanu (pf) for a while and would only read se’ected stories on newzimbabwe.com. Sup with the Devil! Long spoon
This man means business. All others see are sellouts and cheerleaders for getting Zim is bigger than individuals. If Moyo can change our political sphere because he is able to, let him be. If we can change him, so be it. If Mathuthu is now employed by the gvt, its just a job; I wish you good luck mfanami.
Of course it is gvt sponsored(sellouts,sies,kukara kwako uku iwe mathuthu,.
New Zimbabwe is a known Zanupf project.
If anyone is surprised, they must be very naive. This proves my long held suspicion that new zimbabwe was a zim govt security project
This is a way of silencing dissent and increasing Zanu Pf cheer newspapers. Lets not forget that Zanu Pf is con party. Hapana chinobuda apa!
moyo is making all the right moves, but we need to be wary, here is a clever strategist but lets embrace his overtures
Well done Mdu its hightime we build our own Country your skills are much needed.