Herald suspends journalist over Gono speech

Herald suspends journalist over Gono speech

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By Lebo Nkatazo

THE State-run Herald newspaper has suspended a junior business reporter for arriving late at the opening of Tobacco Action Floors last week resulting in the paper failing to carry speeches by Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono and Agriculture Minister Joseph Made.

Sources said information ministry officials phoned Herald Editor Pikirai Deketeke to complain over the coverage of the event in which the reporter Kudzai Chawafambira did interviews with farmers and had nothing on Gono’s or Made’s speeches.

A source at the paper said: "Deketeke in turn summoned Herald Business editor Victoria Ruzvidzo who blamed the young reporter for arriving at the event late. The young man was notified of his suspension Tuesday. He is as good as fired.

“They said if the Daily Mirror could carry the story on its front page, there was no justifiable reason for the Herald to miss it”.

In his speech Gono lashed out at farmers who are currently withdrawing the leaf, for failing to produce tobacco to acceptable standards.

Gono said: “If you come to my farm, you will see that I venture into crops that I am best able to grow. I do not grow tobacco. But those crops I am able to grow, I grow them well."

Farmers have warned of a disaster in the coming season due to a mismatch between costs of farming and returns from sales.
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