Election fever hots up ahead of fresh ZUJ poll

By Tichaona Sibanda
4 February 2010

The campaign to elect new leadership for the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) is gathering momentum ahead of polling day in three weeks time.

Fresh ZUJ elections will be held on the 27th February at the Royal hotel in Bulawayo after the executive that was controversially voted into office in December last year opted to stand down and allow for new elections.

There was a huge outcry from media practitioners following the December elections. Some aspiring candidates were allegedly prevented from taking part in the elections held at Entabeni Lodge in How Mine just outside Bulawayo.

That election was described as fraudulent because the venue was kept secret, and some of the candidates only became aware of it after the results had been announced.

Four freelance journalists successfully lodged an appeal at the High Court to have the elections nullified. The four journalists Godwin Mangudya, Frank Chikowore, Conrad Mwanawashe and Guthrie Munyuki argued that the ZUJ congress and elections were both flawed and invalid. They also pointed to the false representations regarding the venue of the congress and that the whole process had been conducted outside the provisions of the ZUJ constitution.

Dumisani Sibanda of The Sunday News was voted the President during the How mine elections taking over from the long-serving Matthew Takaona, who landed a new position as ‘consultant.’

SW Radio Africa understands that the current executive, who unprocedurally assumed office, and the group that lodged the High court appeal agree on the need to save the union. The two camps are believed to be working on a compromise deal to balance the composition of ZUJ leadership.

Traditionally there is an unwritten law in ZUJ that allows for the President of the union and the first Vice President to come from structures within the state media. The second Vice President and the Secretary-General have always been voted from the independent media. But because of government’s continued crackdown on journalists many wanted that rule ‘thrown out the window’ and allow someone from the independent media to lead ZUJ.

Sibanda, the current President is news editor of the government-controlled Sunday News. ZBC’s Mercy Pote is the first Vice President and Michael Padera from the Herald, second Vice President. Only the popular Secretary-General Foster Dongozi represents the independent sector.

While Sibanda is regarded is a ‘good guy,’ there is concern he would find it extremely tough dealing with individuals like George Charamba, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, and Webster Shamu, the Information Minister. The two are accused of waging a relentless campaign to stifle journalists in Zimbabwe.

When the new ZUJ executive was elected into office in December, most of its donors were unhappy and froze all their aid to the union complaining about the way the disputed elections were conducted. ZUJ cannot survive on member contributions alone and relies on donors.

There are suggestions that negotiations are taking place behind the scenes for Dongozi to remain as the Secretary General of the union. He stood unopposed in the December poll and it’s unlikely anyone will challenge him at the end of the month. To gender balance the representation at the top leadership, Pote is likely to retain her post as first Vice President.

This leaves three people vying for the position of President. The incumbent Sibanda wants to contest, though others had wanted him to stand down and become second Vice President to leave freelancers Guthrie Munyuki and Godwin Mangudya to fight for the Presidency of the union.