THE state-run Chronicle newspaper ran a story under the headline: “Studio 7 linked to NUST demo,” suggesting that the Voice if America hosted radio station paid students to destroy property during a demonstration at the Bulawayo campus on Wednesday. The state newspaper, dare I say, is plumbing the depths of incredulity on this one. It’s just like saying that aliens have landed in Lobengula Street. (The full Chronicle article is republished below if not just for its entertainment value.)
One is reminded of a story the paper ran on 22 April 2002 claiming that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was planning to bomb landmark buildings in Bulawayo. The veracity of that story was subject to an embarrassing retraction late last year, a sad legacy of the demented brand of journalism nurtured by former Government spin doctor Jonathan Moyo at Zimpapers.
The story has all the hallmarks of having been being cooked then planted. The reason is open to speculation. The main issue here is of a newspaper that insults our intelligence with such kind of hogwash. Let us look at the demerits of the story. For one, none of the quoted sources are identified by name. Based as it is on mere speculation without a semblance of verification, the story should not have seen the light of day. Unless of course, the hand of the editor was forced.
The ‘Studio 7 employees based in the city’ are not identified either. Who are they? Shouldn’t they be arrested? Can we really expect Brian Chitembwe to follow up on his story? For a paper whose reputation for investigative journalism borders from zero to none, I wouldn’t place my bets on it. The paper also implies that students at NUST are so dumb that they have to be influenced by 'outside forces' for them to act on issues of their welfare. Such a claim can only be used to raise the stakes so as to justify the high-handedness with which the demo was suppressed by internal security.
While the destruction of property should be roundly condemned, the circumstances that led to that unfortunate incident should be a matter requiring full investigation. One cannot rule out provocation or the mishandling of an otherwise routine event on the University’s calendar. Demonstrations at NUST are an annual ritual and students usually disperse peacefully after being addressed by the authorities. This time around, they were denied that opportunity for reasons that are yet to be revealed.
An independent inquiry should examine all aspects if not to allay any fears or suspicions among those involved. That includes the claim that most of those arrested were ‘soft targets,’ minding their own business when caught up in the melee. Or claims that are yet to be substantiated, that students were merely a Trojan horse for militant colleagues who came in from the University of Zimbabwe in Harare to foment trouble. Such an inquiry would also emphasise the need for a comprehensive crisis plan for the university.
And to claim that a nameless opposition party could also have been behind the disturbances! Come on! We have heard that one played before and is so out of tune. That story was certainly not headline material if you ask me. In fact, it should not have been published at all. Those assertions are baseless until verified and substantiated. You can not take hearsay and publish it as authentic testimony. Any journalist with elementary training should tell you that.
Dr Thomas Muller, a British physician got it right when he said, “Get the facts, or the facts will get you. And when you get them, get them right, or they will get you wrong.” But then who at the Chronicle is listening? Your guess is just as good as mine.
And now, the story...
Studio 7 linked to NUST demo
By Brian Chitemba (The Chronicle 17 February 2006)
A pirate radio station, Studio 7 allegedly paid National University of Science and Technology students to stage violent demonstrations at the campus on Wednesday, Chronicle has learnt.
Sources at the university told this newspaper yesterday that Studio 7 employees based in the city held a meeting with the students on Wednesday morning.During the meeting they allegedly bought beer and gave money to some of the students so that they could lead the protests.
A source said the students were urged to cause unrest in order for the anti-Government pirate radio station to discredit the State in its bulletins.
Following the meeting, the students went on a rampage and destroyed property worth billions of dollars at the administration block on the pretext that they were not happy with the increase of fees from $3 million to between $30 million and $90 million.
“According to our investigations, the students were paid to destroy property at the institution. The students were used by anti-Government elements bent on tarnishing the image of the country,” said the source.
“The students held a meeting on Wednesday between 10 am and 11am and from the hall they stormed the administration block demanding to be addressed by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Lindela Ndlovu. The meeting had been called to discuss the issue of fees hikes. What’s disturbing is that some of the students were quoted by Studio 7 on Wednesday night saying negative things about the Government.”
The source said investigations also revealed an opposition party had a hand in the demonstrations.“We are still gathering information but we believe a certain opposition party might have played a big role in mobilising the students to be rowdy,” he said.
The source said the students had no reason to protest because the university had not sent them home for failing to pay fees.
Convoluted utter rubbish or what? You tell me.
1 comment:
Well instead of attacking the reporter i think u shld attack the system. the reporter is only a junior reporter, who is trying to make his way up. one way or the other he is going to be manipulated by a rotten system.
The reason why he did not quote any source is simple, the source was Felix Moyo, and for obvious reasons he could not be quoted
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