Snuki Zikalala

In a country such as Zimbabwe, where the media is far from free, still greater reliance than normal is placed on international reporting of the gross human rights abuses that are being perpetrated within our borders. Here, journalists are threatened with arrest and imprisonment under the draconian AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act), accreditation by the regime is required, and foreign reporters and press agencies are selectively banned. Accordingly, Zimbabweans learned of the biased reporting policy practised by the South African national broadcaster with a profound sense of shock and dismay.

The shameful news of the South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC) informal reporting policy came to light in September after an internal commission was set up to investigate the News and Current Affairs Managing Director Snuki Zikalala.