E-mail exposes rot at Zimpapers Bulawayo

E-mail exposes rot at Zimpapers Bulawayo

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• Charamba summons Chronicle editor to Harare

• Chronicle, Herald accused of 'zealous advocacy' for Moyo

• Moyo's hand feared as Chronicle journos sent on leave

• Mother of Moyo's 'secret child' disappears

• Power FM DJ Mugadza flees jail

• Newsnest: 'We're not broke'

• ZUJ demands end to Herald strike

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By Staff Reporter

A WITCH-HUNT was underway at the state-run Chronicle newspaper after New Zimbabwe.com's expose on intense jockeying and backstabbing in the race for the editor's post.

Sources on Monday said there was "serious commotion" at the paper, and some senior editors had considered bringing in computer experts to "smoke out" New Zimbabwe.com's sources.

"They want to know who leaked the story to you," a journalist told this website. "Their belief is that the story was written by a Chronicle journalist, and that since it was quite long, that proves it should have been written on a company computer first, then sent as an attachment. They think their experts will trace and smoke out the author of the story."

Zimpapers is thought to be on the verge of appointing a substantive editor at the Chronicle following the departure of Stephen Ndlovu. Former Sunday News reporter Paul Mambo has been the acting editor, but is seen as "too weak" to keep the job.

New Zimbabwe.com has been told of a vicious anti-Mambo campaign at the paper, led by Ndlovu's recruits who feel unsafe under a new editor.

Some of Ndlovu's recruits are said to have gone to the extent of petitioning the Deputy Minister of Information Bright Matonga to appoint "someone from outside" to edit the Bulawayo-based paper. According to sources, some journalists are said to be on an unofficial go-slow, motivated by a desire to sabotage Mambo's chances of getting the job full-time.

But in a bizarre turn, an e-mail transmitted via the Zimpapers mail server last night exposed the full rot at Zimpapers Bulawayo. The e-mail bore the signature "editor", and was sent from the Zimpapers mail server.

Our experts said last night the e-mail was authentic, and suggested someone had managed to hack into Mambo's mail set-up and sent the e-mail from his address.

"What this e-mail does is really to make a mockery of Zimpapers' e-mail security systems. On a day they said they were on a witch-hunt, the witches have come out tops," our expert said.

In the revealing e-mail sent from the heart of Zimpapers, Mambo is portrayed as "indecisive" and "at the mercy of mood swings".

"You are campaigning for Mambo to get the top job but he does not deserve it. The guy is a poor journalist and leader, he is indecisive and concerned about his own future," read the e-mail.

"Right now he is confused and is hell bent on spreading his confusion to everyone. He is indecisive and is at the mercy of mood swings."

The author also accused Mambo of waging a deliberate campaign to get rid of Shonas at the Chronicle. Recently, the author alleged, one of two desk editors who are Shona speakers was told that he was "disrupting the equation" for returning to his job after a long absence.

The writer added: "The other problem is Stephen Ndlovu's legacy. Most of his appointed people are incapable of working. Under Ndlovu other people had to work for them to cover up for their incompetence but that cannot continue. The features editor, cannot write, neither can the entertainment editor (Daisy Jeremani), who happens to be the highest paid desk editor at Chronicle, never mind that she is a closet lesbian.

"The news editor (Mkhululi Sibanda) is an incompetent slob. Elliot Siamonga cannot construct a comprehensible sentence but he is an assistant news editor.

"The other assistant editor, Isaac Waniwa owes his job to Ndlovu's patronage but is an incompetent journalist. New Zimbabwe.com was right about Viriri (Fanuel), he is an insult to journalism, and he is the deputy sports editor!

"In fact, the Chronicle needs a complete overhaul because the present leadership is just not it for the job," the writer railed.

Zimpapers has been invited to comment but no comment had been received last night.
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