News / National
Baba Jukwa media coverage, Ministers blast journalists
05 Jul 2014 at 06:08hrs | Views
Two government ministers on Friday lashed out at the media for giving too much attention to the Baba Jukwa saga while neglecting "real issues" affecting ordinary Zimbabweans.
Addressing delegates at the launch of Zimbabwe Expo Milan to be held in 2015, Industry deputy minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa said there were important issues that should be highlighted by the media instead of splashing Baba Jukwa all over newspapers.
Mabuwa had to address the delegates in vernacular so that the Italian ambassador ENbrico De Agostini wouldn't understand what she was saying.
"I have to speak in Shona so that he doesn't understand, how many journalists have attended this conference . . . as you can see only a few are here, but you run to cover less interesting stories such as Baba Jukwa, issues of less importance while you shun such important events," she said.
"This is an important event, but it is not getting the attention it deserves, you are too busy writing nonsense . . . well let me welcome you to this gathering and thank you ambassador for giving me the permission to great my people," said Mabuwa who did not have kind words for scribes.
Women Affairs deputy minister Abigail Damasane also concurred, saying journalists were obsessed with silly stories.
In the past weeks the media has been awash with stories of the Facebook character that tormented Zanu PF officials in the run up to the 2013 general elections following the arrest of the Sunday Mail editor, Edmund Kudzayi and his brother, Phillip.
The police launched a search for the character, who using his Facebook page, wrote what they termed "subversive statements" that agitated for the removal of a constitutionally elected government through unconstitutional means.
Edmund and his brother have since been released on a $5 000 bail each with stringent conditions and if convicted face life in jail.
Addressing delegates at the launch of Zimbabwe Expo Milan to be held in 2015, Industry deputy minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa said there were important issues that should be highlighted by the media instead of splashing Baba Jukwa all over newspapers.
Mabuwa had to address the delegates in vernacular so that the Italian ambassador ENbrico De Agostini wouldn't understand what she was saying.
"I have to speak in Shona so that he doesn't understand, how many journalists have attended this conference . . . as you can see only a few are here, but you run to cover less interesting stories such as Baba Jukwa, issues of less importance while you shun such important events," she said.
"This is an important event, but it is not getting the attention it deserves, you are too busy writing nonsense . . . well let me welcome you to this gathering and thank you ambassador for giving me the permission to great my people," said Mabuwa who did not have kind words for scribes.
Women Affairs deputy minister Abigail Damasane also concurred, saying journalists were obsessed with silly stories.
In the past weeks the media has been awash with stories of the Facebook character that tormented Zanu PF officials in the run up to the 2013 general elections following the arrest of the Sunday Mail editor, Edmund Kudzayi and his brother, Phillip.
The police launched a search for the character, who using his Facebook page, wrote what they termed "subversive statements" that agitated for the removal of a constitutionally elected government through unconstitutional means.
Edmund and his brother have since been released on a $5 000 bail each with stringent conditions and if convicted face life in jail.
Source - The Zim Mail
