Lies, lies, Herald’s damn lies!
Staff Writer
HARARE — The Herald’s propaganda has reached a crescendo ahead of national elections this year where the main players are Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa and President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the incumbent.
As Zimbabweans are saddled by abject poverty, power blackouts and unbridled repression by the government, Mnangagwa is facing an uphill battle. The Herald, a national daily in the government-controlled Zimpapers stable, is openly campaigning for Mnangagwa weaving yarns at every possible turn while denigrating his opponent, Chamisa.
Today, The Herald carried a story about the Harare-Beibridge Road that it was 70 percent complete in its refurbishment.
Very few people would have batted an eyelid because they take most stories in The Herald, especially about development, under Mnangagwa’s stewardship, with a big pinch of salt.
However, it was the accompanying crisp picture that aroused their curiosity. It turned out the picture of a section of the Dromond-Roosky by-pass in County Leitrim in Ireland, that was opened last month, was stolen from the internet and passed as Mnangagwa’s achievements.
A Zanu PF activist going by the name Noku Carol gloated on Twitter just after the publication of the story: “Rehabilitation of the Harare-Beitbridge Road has reached another milestone with 400km, almost 70 percent of the 580km stretch now completed. #EDTheGameChanger.”
To which journalist Hopewell Chin’ono responded, “Dear HeraldZimbabwe, you stole a picture from County Leitrim in Ireland and lied that it was part of the refurbished Harare-Beitbridge Road! These days you can’t make such lies and get away with it because of technology! #DismantlingPropaganda Brick by Brick!”
The Herald editor Hatred Zenenga was not available for comment. However, his deputy Ranga Mataire – himself a Zanu PF appointee –immediately switched off his cellphone when asked about the lie.
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