THE Zimbabwe Independent today issues an unreserved and unequivocal apology to His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa over an article published in our recent edition concerning alleged irregularities in licence-fee revenues at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
We also wish to extend the same to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation leadership, especially the chair, Helliate Rushwaya.
We acknowledge with deep regret that aspects of the story contained claims and insinuations that may have been interpreted as questioning the integrity of the President or suggesting impropriety in the exercise of his constitutional prerogatives.
We wish to state clearly and categorically that it was never our intention to cast aspersions on the President’s leadership, judgment, or commitment to good governance.
We fully recognise that the reassignment of ministers is a constitutional function vested in the President and exercised in accordance with administrative and national interests.
In particular, we regret any suggestion that ministerial changes were linked to punitive action arising from governance concerns.
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We accept that such insinuations were not supported by verified official findings and may have created a misleading narrative.
The newspaper also acknowledges that the claim that US$52 million in licence-fee revenue was unaccounted for was not grounded in confirmed audit findings.
We accept that there has been no government or forensic audit establishing malpractice in relation to ZBC licence-fee funds. We extend our sincere apologies to the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the board and management of ZBC, and all those affected by the publication.
However, we emphasise that our foremost and most profound apology is directed to the President for any harm, offence or reputational damage occasioned by the article.
The Zimbabwe Independent remains committed to the highest standards of journalistic integrity, fairness and accuracy.
We deeply regret the error and any distress it may have caused.
Faith Zaba, Zimbabwe Independent Editor