Despite government efforts to weed out descenting journalists and uproot media freedom in Zimbabwe, a new crop of political columnists are emerging who are not afraid to call a spade a spade.

By Nkosana Dlamini

Zimbabwe’s Financial Gazette weekly has a must read column - Cabinet Files - that is a literal incarnation of President Robert Mugabe. It is authored by a skilled and perceptive writer who delves into the Zimbabwean leader’s psyche and portrays it just as you would imagine.

The column also carries Mugabe’s favourite catchphrases, verbally attacking political foes, praising his loyalists and sometimes lamenting how he allowed the Prime Minister’s Movement for Democratic Change party - so far the strongest challenger to his rule, to grow and mature.

It is very easy to imagine the column is authored by Mugabe himself.

Tight media controls
Right below the column is another popular column - CZ Notebook, which thrives on scrutinising politicians and questioning whether they really practice what they preach.

The Muckracker column in the weekly Zimbabwe Independent newspaper is among the most popular satirical columns in the local press.

In a country known for its tight media controls and intimidation of the press, journalists and columnists consider the opinion pages to be a safe zone for political commentary without fear of arrests or lawsuits.

The laws do not criminalise opinion.

“The paper has been sued several times over the past 15 years for its commentaries on this column but this has failed because the country’s laws recognise this as a tool of criticism,” said a journalist with the paper who preferred to remain anonymous.

Pseudonym
While news in general is packaged and presented in its raw form, the Muckracker column brings some of the news items under the microscope and produces commentaries that allow the reader to view the issues critically.

The State controlled daily, The Herald, also has a Saturday column which boldy criticises President Mugabe’s political opponents and critics.

It is written under the pseudonym Nathaniel Manheru.

In most of the pieces, the author, believed to be President Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba, is often armed with very privileged State information which he uses to attack his opponents.

Away from the literal pieces are cartoons, the most popular being those produced by cartoonist Tony Namate in the independent daily, The Daily News.

“I have been free to draw my cartoons without feeling confined, because I have worked independently most of my career. I have been free to express my views so far,” says Namate, who has never been arrested for any of his pieces.

“I criticise everyone, including the opposition. I have no sacred cows. Getting criticised by the government is in my opinion is a good sign that your political views are being noticed. Criticism from the government would be welcome, but it doesn't come that often.”

Rich in meaning
Apart from the comical images of political leaders, his cartoons are rich in meaning.

Ephraim Magwenzi, an avid reader of newspapers finds satirical pieces more leisurely and effective.

“They are effective. They bring me closer to a news story that would often be boring to read in its hard news form. Authors of opinion pieces are not so limited in their use of language. They are free to include their own thoughts on the subject,” he says.

“Because of the manner in which they are communicated to the often busy reader, one is drawn into the stories and I believe they are effective even in forcing a change of attitude on the part of the subjects,” concludes Ephraim Magwenzi.