News / National
Newsday warned over Dr Grace Mugabe story
08 Oct 2014 at 18:37hrs | Views
The media fraternity in the country has been urged to uphold ethical professional conduct when gathering information and desist from publishing news articles with ulterior motives.
The call was made by the Permanent Secretary in The Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Mr George Charamba following a story that was published in a daily paper alleging that the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe fired 30 domestic workers at the first family's homestead in Kutama.
The story in the Newsday on Monday was titled 'Grace Fires 30 Workers at Kutama Home.'
Responding to the story, Mr Charamba said journalists who ignore professional ethics by writing malicious articles without even seeking clarification will be held accountable.
The Comptroller at Zimbabwe House, who is also in charge of affairs at the Kutama homestead, Mr Lameck Kashiri clarified that the workers at the homestead are in two categories comprising 21 workers assigned from the District Development Fund (DDF) and three domestic workers.
He said some volunteers from the community also come and assist at the homestead when there is too much work and the last time they came was in April when they were harvesting maize.
Supervisor of the DDF workers, Mr Michael Parebwa has worked at the homestead for the past 16 years and he said most of the workers are long serving workers, a clear demonstration that they enjoy cordial relations with the first family.
The story alleges that the workers were fired after they protested for being fed on a sadza and vegetable diet.
Mr Charamba said he invited the journalist, who wrote the story, to come to the homestead but he failed to turn up.
When the ZBC News visited the homestead this Wednesday, it was business as usual as workers went about their duties, which include attending to the poultry and piggery projects and general maintenance of the yard, among other chores.
The call was made by the Permanent Secretary in The Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Mr George Charamba following a story that was published in a daily paper alleging that the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe fired 30 domestic workers at the first family's homestead in Kutama.
The story in the Newsday on Monday was titled 'Grace Fires 30 Workers at Kutama Home.'
Responding to the story, Mr Charamba said journalists who ignore professional ethics by writing malicious articles without even seeking clarification will be held accountable.
The Comptroller at Zimbabwe House, who is also in charge of affairs at the Kutama homestead, Mr Lameck Kashiri clarified that the workers at the homestead are in two categories comprising 21 workers assigned from the District Development Fund (DDF) and three domestic workers.
He said some volunteers from the community also come and assist at the homestead when there is too much work and the last time they came was in April when they were harvesting maize.
Supervisor of the DDF workers, Mr Michael Parebwa has worked at the homestead for the past 16 years and he said most of the workers are long serving workers, a clear demonstration that they enjoy cordial relations with the first family.
The story alleges that the workers were fired after they protested for being fed on a sadza and vegetable diet.
Mr Charamba said he invited the journalist, who wrote the story, to come to the homestead but he failed to turn up.
When the ZBC News visited the homestead this Wednesday, it was business as usual as workers went about their duties, which include attending to the poultry and piggery projects and general maintenance of the yard, among other chores.
Source - zbc
