ALPHA Media Holdings (AMH) — publishers of NewsDay, Southern Eye, Zimbabwe Independent and The Standard – is the only stable that has not been cited for using hate speech in its news coverage, a June survey by the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) has shown.
REPORT BY STAFF REPORTER
According to the media watchdog survey, State media topped in using hate speech and inciting intolerance against mainly Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party.
MMPZ research and monitoring co-ordinator Eric Matingo told journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club last week that the organisation’s survey in June showed that State media directed hate speech at Tsvangirai a record 83% of the time.
“Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party were the most targeted group in the government media,” read the survey.
“Other victims of hate speech were members of the international community critical of Zanu PF. These included South African President’s (Jacob Zuma) international relations adviser, Lindiwe Zulu.”
The private media is also accused of hate speech towards Zanu PF on two occasions. But the survey does not state the percentage of the private media hate speech towards the former guerrilla movement.
The MMPZ said it recorded 26 counts of hate speech in the private and State media, with The Herald topping the list at 38%, ZTV 35%, SW Radio, SundayMail 4%, ZiFM 8% and Daily News 12%.
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Politicians, commentators and media columnists, among them Zimbabwe Media Commission head Tafataona Mahoso, Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo and pseudonymous columnist Nathaniel Manheru (believed to be President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba), top the list of offenders committing hate speech.
