Despicable journalism from the Herald

Pius Ncube

26 July 2007

By Itayi Garande

"I don't know about you, but I'm beginning to feel very moved by the Pius Ncube story. When I read that he wasn't attending Mass anymore, I said to myself, 'Oh my God, what have we done to this 60 year old man who has been fighting for our freedom? Do we have to chastise this man for doing what's, afterall, human?'"

This is an extract of a letter we received today from a TalkZimbabwe reader on the Pius Ncube story. Too little, too late? The editors at The Herald, in a despicable piece of journalism, got what they wanted. Once more the moral bankruptcy of the sewer press is evident. They are making us believe that this lawsuit is a consequence of Divine retribution for criticising Zanu PF.

Much like the stain of an allegation that never washes away, the image of Archbishop Pius Ncube is forever tainted because of the political agenda of an "evil government" bent on retaining power at whatever cost. Insurmountable damage has been done whatever the outcome of the Z$20 billion lawsuit.

I do not support what 'he did' if he 'did it'. What concerns me is the pure evil of the hatred that many of our newspapers have directed at him over the past week. Compassion has gone on strike!

I really feel that there is a section of our media that is determined to keep this man down on his knees and which won't be happy until he is quite literally dead. I sometimes look at the Mugabe and the Zanu PF party which should be hanging its collective head in shame at the torture and tens of thousands of deaths for which it is responsible, and see their conduct regarding Pius, and ask myself if they live on the same planet as normal people.

I wish that as Zimbabweans, our emphasis was on helping people to rediscover their value rather than destroying them utterly. I have seen Pius's story turned by some of our media into a delight rather than the human tragedy that it is. Indeed, as I look at this frightened, now reclusive, vulnerable 60 year old man's treatment, I think that "bullying" is the best description of what our country is best at.

Keen for revenge on a cleric who opposed mass murder and starvation in Zimbabwe, The Herald and Mugabe have been indecent in their lust for revenge. The problem with irresponsible reporting from supposedly responsible organizations (at least in the past) such as The Herald, The Chronicle, and the like, is that stories of this nature have a long lasting effect on those predisposed to believing them. As Mark Twain said; "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes."

However, in the minds of certain people (namely Zanoids) particularly those who viscerally dislike Pius Ncube, the desire to believe a defamatory story about the Archbishop is so great, they will contort themselves every which way to convince themselves it is true, despite the fact that due process has not proved it so. As an aside, it does seem odd how there always seems to be a "great story" available whenever vitriolic denunciation of the Zimbabwean president is required.

I cannot say that I was ever a fan of the Archbishop. I respect his guts and his frankness. Sometimes I found him very excitable. And yet, I feel a certain sympathy for Pius Ncube. Flawed he may be, but I sense a man with much human decency. I hope he is able to save his career and recover a decent human life. I hope there will be good times for him in the future.

As for The Herald, this is a newspaper which has, as its sole raison d'etre, a desire to secretly enter the bedrooms of others, famous (Pius) and unknown. The more intrusive the details, the happier Mugabe and co are. Of course, they play the censorious and carping role.

Readers are encouraged to feel superior to those whose lives are destroyed on the altar of the dreadful Mugabe whose influence on journalism has been that of a sewer rat. If the Pharisees of the Gospels were rather censorious, Mugabe's editors are the High Priests of moralising, sanctomonious hypocrisy!- Talk Zimbabwe.com

Itayi Garande is the Editor of Talk Zimbabwe.com and this article formed part of an editorial on the site.

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