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Media under threat as journalists are ordered to wear Zanu PF regalia

JOURNALISTS reading the news at the state-controlled ZBC have been ordered to wear Zanu-PF T-shirts emblazoned with President Robert Mugabe portrait including that of his wife Grace.

The unprecedented directive could yet bring into disrepute the much maligned broadcaster known for unashamedly backing Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party.

Some of the T-shirts are inscribed with the words, “Gushungo Victory Club”.

Mugabe’s wife, Grace, is also on the T-shirts.

Sources at the public broadcaster said the T-shirts had various messages praising the First Family ahead of the next week’s Zanu-PF congress.

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The T-shirts were distributed to ZBC news presenters, including other workers, by management last week.

“There is already a circular at the notice board at Pockets Hill instructing news presenters to put on the T-shirts whenever they are on air until after congress.

“Presenters of talk-shows and other programmes have also been instructed to wear Mugabe and Grace’s portraits until the end of congress,” said a source at Pockets who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.

ZBC presenters, Soneni Ncube, and Nyasha Makota, on Saturday presented the 5 o’clock Ndebele and Shona news bulletins while wearing the T-shirts.

Zanu-PF is embroiled in unprecedented turmoil ahead of the congress after Mugabe’s wife, Grace, went on the rampage attacking Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

She accused Mujuru of attempting to oust her husband at next week’s congress, a charge Mujuru denied.

At least eight Zanu-PF provincial chairmen were also kicked out as Mugabe moved to crush a potential challenge at the congress.

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