ALPHA Media Holdings (AMH) — publishers of Southern Eye, Zimbabwe Independent, NewsDay and The Standard — is the only stable that has not been cited for using hate speech in its news coverage, a June survey by a media watchdog has pointed out.
By Nqobani Ndlovu
State media tops in the survey of using hate speech and inciting intolerance mainly against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party, a survey by the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) says.
Eric Matingo, the MMPZ research and monitoring co-ordinator, 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,” the survey reads.
“Other victims of hate speech were members of the international community critical of Zanu PF.
“These included South African President Jacob Zuma’s international relations adviser Lindiwe Zulu.”
The private media is also accused of hate speech towards Zanu PF on two occasions.
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The MMPZ report does not state the percentage of the private media hate speech towards Zanu PF.
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 and Sunday Mail 4%, ZiFM 8% and Daily News 12%. Politicians, commentators and media columnists, among them Zimbabwe Media Commission head Tafataona Mahoso, Zanu PF Politburo member Jonathan Moyo and Nathaniel Manheru top the list of offenders committing hate speech. “Only The Herald was responsible for spreading hate messages in its editorial comments,” MMPZ indicated.
