From Ray Bande in Mutare
Zimpapers group chief executive Mr Justin Mutasa has scoffed at remarks by some sections of the private media that Zimpapers was rewarding its employees as a way of celebrating the Zanu-PF victory in the just ended elections. The Zimpapers boss, who was addressing the company’s Mutare branch, reacted angrily to the remarks saying the private media had proved to be “an end of extended hand”.
Mr Mutasa said as management, they had a duty to offer incentives and motivate employees especially after excelling in their line of duty.
“After all, the so-called independent media is not so independent. The world knows where their allegiance lies. We have seen it over the years that the private media is nothing more than an end of extended hand. They represent foreign interests as opposed to our company which stands for what is good for Zimbabwe and its citizens.
Even the market knows that. Any journalist in the world, be it in America, Britain or Australia will always strive to defend and uphold his or her national interests. If you do not follow that principle as a journalist then you should know that you are of extreme low intellect,” said Mr Mutasa.
Zimpapers has been rewarding its journalists in all its branches for a job well done, a development that was misconstrued by some sections of the private media.