He said it was the role of the media to ensure that Zimbabwe was united.
The Vice President who is chairperson of the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration said this during a meeting between the organ and senior management of various media houses.
“If you are constructive tell the truth, let’s engage in debate that builds Zimbabwe. When are you going to stop peddling

stories that undermine the leadership of Zimbabwe?” said the Vice President.
He said the organ will soon hold interparty meetings at provincial and district level with the assistance of secretary generals of political parties preaching the gospel of peace.
This followed an interparty conference where the three principals to the Global Political Agreement held the same meeting with high level political party structures a fortnight ago.

He said senior office holders should desist from saying statements that fan political violence.
VP Nkomo was responding to questions from the floor following reports that a national chairperson of one political party had been quoted as urging their party supporters to retaliate when attacked.
“We want the Press to expose those people who work against their parties,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu, said the media was a critical stakeholder in national reconciliation.

He said some media consumers had been bombarded with falsehoods packaged as news to the extent that some media houses were fast losing credibility.
“The public is fast becoming less and less confident in the objectivity of the news that is reported by some newspapers.
“Some articles, which are passed as news are sensational, dishonest, unethical and vindictive smear campaigns against some individuals and organisations,” said Minister Shamu.

“Some media houses now specialise in attacking the Head of State and Government and the First Family on a daily and weekly basis. The publications elevate rumours to the platform of news.”
He reminded senior media managers that they were also part and parcel of this peace-loving nation and therefore should safeguard it.
The media, said Minister Shamu, should not derail efforts by the organ as the nation gears for a referendum and elections next year.

“Never prejudge the outcome of national polls by stating categorically that so and so has won when it is the duty of election officials to announce election results,” said Minister Shamu.
Minister of State in the Organ, Sekai Holland said the code of conduct they were working on for political parties will not be punitive but would be based on voluntarism.-The Chronicle

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