Calls for Mahoso to resign

By Tererai Karimakwenda
08 December 2005

The international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has called for the resignation of Dr. Tafataona Mahoso, head of the Media and Information Commission (MIC), which is responsible for the news media in Zimbabwe. In a statement released on Thursday, the group said Mahoso must step down after a journalist who resigned from the MIC board, Jonathan Maphenduka, alleged that Mahoso takes orders from his political bosses.

Maphenduka claimed in High Court documents that the board had agreed to allow the banned independent Daily News newspaper, to register with the MIC and begin publishing again. But Mahoso allegedly bowed to pressure from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and ruled against the popular daily. Leornard Vincent of Re porters Without Borders told us the evidence of direct political control of the MIC involved in Maphenduka’s case is enough to warrant Mahoso’s resignation. The Reporters said: "The MIC's loyalty to the regime was already obvious but now there is proof that it is under the government's direct political control".

The group also wants other officials on the MIC board to publicly acknowledge government interference and dissociate themselves.

The full statement from Re porters Without Borders can be found on our website at swradioafrica.com