The handling of an unfortunate newspaper error last week highlighted the super-sensitivity of the Zimbabwean authority, their tendency to over-reach in relation to the media and how journalists are obliged to treat the country’s President.

Suspected security agents on 20 September raided the home of the editor-in-chief of Modus Publications, publishers of Daily News and The Financial Gazette.

Their beef: an erroneous advert which expressed condolences to President Emmerson Mnangagwa instead of wishing him a happy birthday.

Mngangwa turned 82 recently and last week all public media run supplements wishing the ZANU PF strongman more years to come. Due to lackadaisical management at Modus Publications there was what Munyukwi described as “a mortifying error.” Incensed by the advert, agents swamped Munyukwi’s residence at 4am but found him away.

Later that day, Munyukwi and his executives made a beeline to State House to tender a personal and profuse apology, which Mngangwa allegedly accepted.

The Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZINEF) thereafter issued a statement to the media in wake of the incident highlighting that the incident showed that the Zimbabwe media has to maintain the highest levels of professionalism.

“Whilst this could be a common oversight error, Editors must exercise their due diligence and quality control to avoid such mistakes.

“A spelling mistake makes a huge difference in media content and may change the whole meaning to a story. However, there are professional means of addressing such mistakes including retractions and public apologies with the same prominence. We also
have complaints mechanisms such as VMCZ that can mediate between aggrieved parties in a manner that ameliorates harm and acrimony,” said ZINEF.

They said nothing about the state’s over-reaction to the error.