Wilf Mbanga
Publisher and Editor, The Zimbabwean
Zimbabwe has descended into unparalleled levels of media censorship. The Mugabe military junta is determined to cut Zimbabweans off from the rest of the world by ensuring that they are unable to receive news from outside Zimbabwe about what is happening in their own country.
Independent newspapers have been closed down and jamming stations block external radio broadcasts. Printing presses have been bombed and journalists are continually harassed and arrested. E-mails and phone calls are monitored. In a recent incident a South African truck carrying copies of The Zimbabwean on Sunday was hijacked, burnt and the drivers abducted and beaten.
Today the Mugabe junta announced the beginning of yet another operation designed to oppress the people of Zimbabwe. Under Operation ‘Pull down your satellite dish’ the regime is forcing Zimbabweans to pull down their home satellite dishes This latest operation is a concerted effort by the Mugabe regime to close all spaces through which information can be disseminated, with the objective of stealing the election.
The Zimbabwean newspaper is the now only source of independent information available to most Zimbabweans. The paper is published in South Africa and twice a week 200 000 copies are transported across the border into Zimbabwe. It is also distributed widely throughout South Africa and read by Zimbabweans and South Africans who care about the future of the region.
Every copy of the paper bought here in South Africa pays for seven copies to cross the border and 10,714 copies for every full page ad booking
With 10-20 readers per copy this will give 70-140 Zimbabweans information on what is happening in their country, fortifying their courage and resolve to vote once again in the face of the horrific violence being meted out by Mugabe’s thugs.
This week please buy as many copies of The Zimbabwean as you can afford, and ask everyone you know to do the same.
Your support will make the difference.
