Tsvangirai lodges complaint over "bribery" scandal

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has lodged a complaint with the Zimbabwe Media Commission over a story published in The Herald newspaper suggesting that he bribed editors of privately-owned newspapers to portray him in good light.

Below is the abridged version of a letter written to the ZMC by Ian Makone, Chief Secretary in the office of the Prime Minister.

RE: COMPLAINT AGAINST THE HERALD ON THEIR ARTICLE TITLED, “PM EMBROILED IN BRIBERY SCANDAL” WHICH WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 6^TH OF JANUARY 2012

The Office of the Prime Minister notes with concern the article referred to above.

On the 6^th of January 2012, The Herald published an article titled “PM embroiled in bribery scandal” in which it was unambiguously alleged that the Prime Minister had bribed Editors from three private newspapers in order to influence them to write what The Herald described as positive stories on his political and personal life.

The Herald story however, does not provide proof of these serious allegations nor does it name the sources that provided them with the evidence to support the bribery allegations. There is no attempt in the whole article to substantiate the allegations of bribery against the Prime Minister. The story is shockingly lacking in truth and detail. The specific facts pertaining to the actual event or events wherein the alleged bribes were dispensed are conspicuous by their absence. Indeed, there is no mention in the article of what form these bribes took. In short, it is clear to any impartial reader that the allegations as presented in the article are without any substance.

The Prime Minister is naturally aggrieved by these unjustified allegations in the article concerned. These bribery allegations are false in their entirety. It is the Prime Minister’s view that these allegations were concocted by The Herald and those that are politically associated with them in order to portray him as a corrupt politician, thereby discrediting him. The fact that the article is devoid of any specific detail concerning the alleged bribery suggests to the Prime Minister that both the author and the publisher of the article must have been aware of the falsity of the allegations contained in the article even as they were printing them.

It is pertinent to note that throughout the tenure of the Government of National Unity, the Herald has persistently and consistently poured scorn and abuse on the person and office of the Prime Minister. This article is the latest attempt by The Herald to discredit the Prime Minister through false allegations.

In view of the above, The Prime Minister hereby lodges with your Commission, a formal complaint against the ‘The Herald’ and the Editor of the Herald for their conduct which is in breach of all known journalistic ethics. It is his view that the powers vested in the Zimbabwe Media Commission by Sections 100 (p) and 100 (q) of the Constitution and also by Section 39 (b), (i) and (p) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, enable your Commission to address this complaint effectively. The cavalier attitude with which the Herald recklessly made allegations of such magnitude without an iota of proof to support them deserves censure by your Commission.

It is the Prime Minister’s sincere hope that your commission will treat this matter with the urgency it deserves.

Yours Faithfully,

Ian Makone

Chief Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister

CC: Minister of Media, Information and Publicity

Tsvangirai Ditches "wife" of two weeks

By Morgan Tsvangirai

For the past two weeks, I have been a subject of intense media coverage regarding my relationship with Ms Lorcadia Karimatsenga.



I know that as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, my private life is inevitably a public issue because of the public position that I hold.



However, I feel that the people of Zimbabwe deserve to know my position on this matter, which to a large extent has damaged not only the reputations of the two of us involved in this relationship, but equally so the public image of the Tsvangirai and Karimatsenga families.



Like every cultured Zimbabwean, on Friday, 18 November 2011, I sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family homestead to perform traditional and cultural rites to formalize this relationship.



I was well-meaning and had good intentions to rebuild my family and start a new lease of life following the tragic passing on of my wife on 6 March 2009.



But since the day I sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family, everything has been played in the press and I have become an innocent bystander in what is supposed to be my relationship.



I have become a spectator in this relationship and things are happening too fast, on camera and without my knowledge. This has led me to conclude that there is a greater and thicker plot around this issue which has undermined my confidence in this relationship.



Firstly, I was reported to have been there in Christon bank when in fact I was in my office. There have been several developments since that day which have been deliberately planted in the media and which I have had to read in the press; developments that would have taken place without my involvement and knowledge as an interested party.


The “marriage” has been hijacked and there is an apparent active political hand that is now driving the processes. State security agents have also weighed in to force and direct proceedings which has resulted in everything regarding this relationship now taking place in camera, with the public media journalists in tow.



Everything is so well choreographed. The intention is clear: to inflict maximum damage on my person and character for political gain. This has caused me to have serious misgivings as to whether this will be a perfect union that will inspire young couples and reflect marriage as the noble and respectable institution that it is.



My original intention was to make this thing work, to rebuild my family once again and to serve my country with honour and distinction not only as a national leader, but as a respected family man who owned up to his responsibility by following cultural and traditional procedures.



There are many things I have learnt in the process and one is that with the benefit of hindsight, I could have done things differently.

In this regard, I apologize to every single Zimbabwean for any discomfort caused by any of my actions.



I also realized that sometimes when you are searching for a partner especially after losing your wife, there are many stakeholders in the process some of whom have their own ulterior intentions.

Having been married for 31 years, the tendency is to want to use your experience as a yardstick for future relationships. Regrettably, the individuals, like the one in question, may not meet the same standards.



I want to admit that the last two weeks have been particularly bad for me, my children, my family and even ordinary Zimbabweans who have sought to find meaning to this sordid saga.



Reputations have been bruised and mutual trust upon which such relations are built and maintained has been lost.



My genuine intention has been betrayed and hearts have had to search long and hard to the true meaning of this well-choreographed drama that has now been hijacked to cause political damage on my person and character.



I have followed the traditional and cultural route and I have communicated my position through the same channel to inform the Karimatsengas of my position.
This relationship has been irretrievably damaged to a point where marriage is now inconceivable.



However, I want to assure the people of Zimbabwe that this dark patch in my private life will not dampen my commitment to serve my country and to deliver real change to the people.



I remain unfazed by this sad chapter which will not in any way deter me from my national responsibility to serve Zimbabwe.

I will not expose the people’s struggle for democratic change to machinations of infiltration by those that have oppressed the people of Zimbabwe for the past 30 years.



When the time comes, and when the right person fit to be a reliable partner and mother of my children is found, I will advise the nation accordingly.



May God bless Zimbabwe.



*Morgan Tsvangirai*

*Prime Minister of Zimbabwe*

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