The government has accused journalist Simba Chikanza, the owner of online publication ZimEye, of attempting to blackmail the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.
This comes after the United Kingdom-based Chikanza gave the First Lady an 8-hour ultimatum to return to him and continue an interview she had cut off.
Chikanza threatened to share the video footage of the call that he had with the First Lady. He also threatened to make the public watch everything inside First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s house.
However, Zimbabweans on social media came to the First Lady’s defence and called out Chikanza for attempting to blackmail her.
The Office of the First Lady has since released a statement condemning Chikanza for breaching journalism ethics.
The First Lady’s Office confirmed that she had spoken to Chikanza but insisted that everything was off the record.
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| Government Speaks On First Lady Blackmail Attempt By Simba Chikanza Of ZimEye |
STATEMENT ON BLACKMAIL THREATS BY SIMBA CHIKANZA OF ZIMEYE TO THE FIRST LADY:
Simba Chikanza of Zimeye online media platform called the First Lady of Zimbabwe, Mai Auxilia Mnangagwa, wanting to interview her on issues that the First Lady felt were out of her competence.
The First Lady spoke to Simba Chikanza off the record, which is a journalism standard and ethical rule that allows the proposed interviewee, Mai Mnangagwa, an opportunity to speak with journalists giving them context to issues and why she can’t speak on them.
It is a tragic and terrible ethical breach of journalism for Simba Chikanza to then blackmail the First Lady publicly, demanding that she gives him an interview based on a threat to release an off the record conversation.
The First Lady has always been available to speak to journalists because she understands her obligatory role and functions to the Nation.
The First Lady also understands that she needs to allow journalists to do their work professionally by being available when they need information related to her role and functions.
However, it is unprofessional for journalists to force her to speak on issues which she has no authority to speak on, especially after she has explained in an off the record conversation why she can’t do so.
The attempt by Simba Chikanza to blackmail Mai Mnangagwa into speaking to him using threats to release an off the record conversation is the worst unethical brooch in journalism.
If he carries out his threats, it will break the trust between the Office of the First Lady and the media, something that Mai Mnangagwa doesn’t want to happen.
The First Lady was recently conferred with f a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Honoris Causa) degree by GD Goenka University of India to recognise her accomplishments and philanthropic works.
According to The Herald, GD Goenka is a group of institutions founded in 1994, offering high quality professional and educational programmes of international standards.
