News / Local
CIOs bar journalists from covering Chief's installation ceremony
2 hrs ago |
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Journalists from Masvingo Mirror were on Friday barred from covering the installation of Silas Chikwanda as the new substantive Chief Chikwanda after three men alleged to be members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) intervened at the venue.
The trio, reportedly attached to the office of Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, accused the journalists of publishing negative reports about the appointment process, including claims that it breached the law. They ordered the reporters to leave the event despite their accreditation by the Zimbabwe Media Commission.
Witnesses said the men prevented the journalists from accessing the ceremony, arguing that their previous coverage was hostile to the appointment of Silas Chikwanda. Media practitioners at the scene maintained that as duly accredited reporters, they were entitled to cover a public event of national and local significance.
Observers noted that the officials who barred the journalists have no legal authority to eject accredited members of the press from a public gathering. Concerns were raised that the move undermines media freedom and the constitutional rights of journalists to gather and disseminate information.
The only registered media house visibly covering the ceremony was the state broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. Other individuals present with recording equipment were described by some attendees as informal or unregistered reporters often seen at events involving senior Zanu-PF officials.
The ceremony took place under heavy security, with a strong presence of riot police deployed amid fears of possible demonstrations by members of the Chikwanda family, who are reportedly contesting Silas Chikwanda's appointment. Family representatives are said to have expressed dissatisfaction with the selection process, arguing that it did not follow established customary or legal procedures.
Silas Chikwanda is understood to be a serving CIO operative, a detail that has added to the controversy surrounding his installation as chief. Authorities had not issued an official statement on the exclusion of the journalists or on the concerns raised about the appointment at the time of publication.
The trio, reportedly attached to the office of Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, accused the journalists of publishing negative reports about the appointment process, including claims that it breached the law. They ordered the reporters to leave the event despite their accreditation by the Zimbabwe Media Commission.
Witnesses said the men prevented the journalists from accessing the ceremony, arguing that their previous coverage was hostile to the appointment of Silas Chikwanda. Media practitioners at the scene maintained that as duly accredited reporters, they were entitled to cover a public event of national and local significance.
The only registered media house visibly covering the ceremony was the state broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. Other individuals present with recording equipment were described by some attendees as informal or unregistered reporters often seen at events involving senior Zanu-PF officials.
The ceremony took place under heavy security, with a strong presence of riot police deployed amid fears of possible demonstrations by members of the Chikwanda family, who are reportedly contesting Silas Chikwanda's appointment. Family representatives are said to have expressed dissatisfaction with the selection process, arguing that it did not follow established customary or legal procedures.
Silas Chikwanda is understood to be a serving CIO operative, a detail that has added to the controversy surrounding his installation as chief. Authorities had not issued an official statement on the exclusion of the journalists or on the concerns raised about the appointment at the time of publication.
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