Felix Moyo under fire

National University of Science and Technology (NUST) director of communications Mr Felix Moyo is under fire from media practitioners based in Bulawayo after he called a press conference only to turn it into a photo shoot last minute, in what journalists described as a blatant abuse of the profession.

Despite extending an invite through his public relations office for media houses to come for a press conference where the new Vice Chancellor Professor Mqhele Dlodlo was to be introduced, Mr Moyo shocked all and sundry when he suddenly made an about turn on the agenda of the meeting as he blocked journalists from asking any questions to the new Vice Chancellor saying the session is for the press to only have a picture of the professor.

Grilled on why he misrepresented facts about the meeting's agenda, Mr Moyo simply said he was sorry and said Professor Bhebhe was only going to give his vision some time later.

The Vice Chancellor was shocked by the reaction of the media practitioners who started packing their equipment after introductions and even questioned whether journalists were not supposed to ask him questions to which Mr Moyo boastfully responded by saying he had blocked them from such a session.

Some journalists who spoke on condition of anonymity said the abuse they suffered at the hands of Mr Moyo was unwarranted vowing that they were going to hold the NUST public relations department to account for their actions.

Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe executive director Mr Loughty Dube said it is unfortunate that an experienced public relations department like NUST could have such a PR mistake insisting that it is important for institutions to understand how the media operates by availing proper information on issues on agenda to avoid such incoherence in future.