WHEN Jonathan Moyo was appointed Information minister in 2013, media houses got really afraid thinking history would repeat itself and a second baptism of fire would be on the way.
Moyo had previously cracked the whip and caused pandemonium in news rooms with new legislation meant to control passing of information, but which proved to be a due girdle on media freedoms and operations.
When he toured private and State media houses after the 2013 appointment, a new-look Moyo seemed to be emerging and setting new trends on ministerial roles.
Media houses went into frenzy praising the fresh initiative and proactive engagement by Moyo which no other minister could emulate.
Moyo’s new image has since disappeared and instead, the suppressive edge, so typical of Zanu PF has taken its rightful place in him.
What media houses thought was a human face to the Information ministry in 2013, with attendant rights and citizenry liberties, the face of logic and natural disputation, has transformed into a surprising servile role where Moyo explains a presidential fall giving false interpretations in the face of numerous video images to the contrary, issues threats to photojournalists ranting at them that he would stifle them by confiscating phones and IT gadgets which keep deleted pictures of the falling president, rails against private media threatening not to invite it to State functions, protects the police and slams a judge who has spoken so eloquently against police spot fines!
That boggles a media mind and the ordinary citizen would constantly ask why when a sober opinion meant to protect people is made, Moyo and his ilk jump in to cut the jugular.
Police were not trained to make people bleed, but to protect them, unless we have rouges for lawmen. Citizens wonder why the president, who manages to break his fall, fails to break the freefalling economy.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Luckily for us, the presidential fall has not yet been blamed on sanctions – the West has probably been blamed for poor design on the red carpet!
The public had wished to see professorial people directing the fortunes of ordinary citizens and protecting their interests, instead we are having a typical case of amajodo awele abangelazimbiza (literally: melons have been given to people without pots).
People cannot help feeling disappointed and let down by individuals so powerful in the government, yet so incapable and irresponsible, just too keen to sing and dance for their supper.
