ZIMBABWE-MEDIA: INDEPENDENT DAILY CRUMBLES

HARARE, Nov 15 (IPS) - ZIMBABWE'S FIRST AND ONLY INDEPENDENT DAILY IS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

THE PUBLISHER OF THE 'DAILY GAZETTE', ALIAS RUSIKE, DESCRIBED THE RETRENCHMENT OF THE NEWSPAPER'S EDITOR AND SIX REPORTERS ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK AS A "STRUCTURAL CHANGE".

THE NEWSPAPER HAS SLID GRADUALLY INTO THE RED SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 1992.

"THE PAPER STARTED OFF QUITE WELL ON A NON-PARTISAN LINE BUT FADED OUT WITH TIME AS PEOPLE FEARED TO BE IDENTIFIED WITH THE BARRAGE OF SALVOS THEY UNLEASHED ON THE GOVERNMENT," SAYS A SOURCE AT THE COMPANY, MODUS.

THE GOVERNMENT REGARDS THE 'GAZETTE' AS PART OF THE OPPOSITION PRESS.

BUT ACCORDING TO VETERAN POLITICIAN NDABANINGI SITHOLE, "IT WAS ONLY SUPPORTIVE TO OUR CAUSE AS AN INDEPENDENT PAPER. IT SERVED EVERYBODY'S INTERESTS AND TO SAY IT IS AN OPPOSITION PAPER BORDERS ON BEING MISINFORMED."

HOWEVER, INFORMATION MINISTER DAVID KARIMANZIRA SAYS: "THE GOVERNMENT CHERISHES PRESS FREEDOM AND OUR JOURNALISTS ARE AMONG THE FEW IN THE WORLD WHOSE WORKING ENVIRONMENT IS NEITHER CHARACTERIZED BY VIOLENCE NOR INTIMIDATION."

AS THE MINISTER WAS DELIVERING THAT ASSURANCE AT A JOURNALISM AWARDS CEREMONY, THE POLICE WERE DEMANDING THAT A 'GAZETTE' REPORTER REVEAL HIS SOURCES FOR A STORY ALLEGING THAT SOME COMPANIES IN WHICH THE RULING PARTY HAD INTERESTS WERE NOT PAYING CORPORATE TAXES.

LAST YEAR, THE EDITOR AND A REPORTER OF THE DAILY'S STABLE MATE, THE 'FINANCIAL GAZETTE', WERE SUMMONED BY A PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING A LEAK.

"ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING STATE OF AFFAIRS, EVEN MATTERS OF MERE POLICY HAS BEEN DIFFICULT AT THE HANDS OF THE BUREAUCRATIC OFFICIALS, A CLEAR INDICATION OF THE POLITICIAN'S ARROGANCE TOWARDS THEIR DUTY TO INFORM PEOPLE," SAYS ANDREW MORSE, EDITOR OF THE INDEPENDENT 'HORIZON' NEWS MAGAZINE.

PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE IS ON RECORD AS SAYING, "STRINGENT LAWS SHOULD REMAIN TO DETER JOURNALISTS FROM WRITING ANYHOW WITHOUT VERIFYING THEIR FACTS."

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