More than a million Zimbabweans live in exile in the UK and more than two million live outside Zimbabwe in Southern Africa. The newspaper will, for the first time, give a voice to these Zimbabweans, who constitute some 25% of the total population. It will build links and encourage readers to tell their own stories and those of their families, as well as articulating their fears and frustrations about the issues concerning them.
Announcing the launch, the paper’s founder, Wilf Mbanga, said the project would seek to harness the energies and synergies of exiles, many of whom were isolated, marginalised and voiceless, yet constituted Zimbabwe’s professional, skilled and intellectual cream.
“They are hungry for news about home and effectively cut off from their families and each other. Many do not have access to the internet at work or at home and are dependent upon internet cafes and e-mail,” he said.
'The Zimbabwean', a tabloid weekly, will focus on news from Zimbabwe as well as life in exile. The content will obviously have a heavy emphasis on Zimbabwean politics, but will also include arts and culture, business, sports, gender issues, social issues and news analysis. Letters to the editor will be a key feature, as will classified advertisements.
Current legislation makes it difficult to operate as an independent journalist in Zimbabwe. Many bright, young journalists have been forced out of the country into hardship and unemployment abroad. Some of these have teamed up with Mbanga, founder of the now-silenced Daily News, Zimbabwe’s only independent daily from 1999 to 2003.
“I have been deeply touched and encouraged by the willingness with which Zimbabwean exiles have responded to my call to get involved,” said Mbanga. “Obtaining independent news from Zimbabwe will be a challenge, as foreign correspondents are banned from entering the country. The various on-line resources, together with some radio stations, have done an excellent job in keeping the story alive since the silencing of the Daily News. We will be maximizing synergies with them.”
Mbanga said the newspaper would be dedicated to freedom of expression and access to information for all the peoples of Zimbabwe, founded on the sacred principles of journalism – fairness and honesty.
“We believe the paper can play a role in drawing attention to so much that is offensive to basic human decency and hostile to peace in our beloved Zimbabwe. Such exposure may help the country to return to the path of wisdom, democracy and the rule of law. We believe those in positions of authority and power should be held accountable to those they are supposed to serve and that a free media is fundamental to ensuring such accountability,” he said.
“The Zimbabwean will be an authoritative and accurate newspaper of record and a reliable source of information to all those individuals, agencies and governments with an interest in Zimbabwe. A news blackout is dangerous for any society. The forthcoming general election scheduled for March adds urgency. We will ensure that our coverage is accurate, fair and balanced. We will be accountable to our readers. We will endeavour to give all viewpoints, and everyone – including the government of Zimbabwe – will have the right of reply. In short, we will do everything the government newspapers in Zimbabwe are not allowed to do!”
Mbanga said his research had led him to believe that a physical newspaper was essential - but The Zimbabwean would also be available online soon after the middle of February, at www.thezimbabwean.co.uk.
