THE Herald editor Caesar Zvayi, who was sent on forced leave on Wednesday over the publication of a story titled Gono, Biti ties stir hornet’s nest, yesterday remained tight-lipped over his suspension.
REPORT BY STAFF REPORTER
Zvayi was sent on forced leave after Media, Information and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo took exception at the publication of the article which he described as “political mischief propelled by cowardice”.
The article criticised the hiring of MDC-T secretary-general and lawyer Tendai Biti by Zanu PF Buhera Senator-designate Gideon Gono to fight corruption charges raised by his former adviser Munyaradzi Kereke.
Gono is the immediate-past governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, while Biti was Finance minister in the inclusive government from 2009 to 2013.
The Herald also inferred that some senior Zanu PF officials were uneasy over Gono’s appointment as the party’s replacement for the late Manicaland Senator Kumbirai Kangai because of his closeness to the opposition MDC-T party.
But, in a statement on Wednesday night, Moyo said: “The Herald’s undisguised smear campaign against Gono is based on quotations from faceless and nameless sources described as ‘senior Zanu PF officials’ and ‘a Zanu PF Politburo member with close ties to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’.
“One does not need to be a rocket scientist to realise not only that the faceless and nameless sources in the unfortunate story are uncreative inventions, but also that it is not possible for Kereke, who is clearly the main source of the scurrilous story, to be at one and the same time rolled into ‘senior Zanu PF officials’ and ‘a Zanu PF Politburo member with close ties to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’.”
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Yesterday, Zvayi said: “I will not comment on this issue beyond the official statement issued.”
A few hours after he was forced out, Zvayi took to his Facebook account and posted a nearly similar status, quoting a Bible verse: “Thanks for the calls guys. I won’t comment on this issue beyond the official statements already issued. On all other stories, my (Facebook) wall is live. Meanwhile here is a verse to ponder, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’. (Jeremiah 29:11.) And this verse has always held true.”
