IT speaks volumes that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s first face-to-face meeting with local editors happened only three weeks ago — nearly two years into his second term.
This underscores his administration’s deep contempt for the media and its role in informing the public.
There is an undeniable reluctance to keep citizens apprised on critical national issues.
Cabinet briefings are perfunctory, leaving one to wonder if substantive matters are ever discussed.
When scandals erupt — be it the Gold Mafia exposé, the diplomatic rift with Zambia or the POSB Bank debacle — Mnangagwa’s government responds through faceless social media accounts.
This is clumsy, unprofessional and fuels speculation, exacerbating the prevailing sense of disorder.
The result? Mnangagwa has squandered the goodwill he briefly enjoyed after the November 2017 military coup.
Public trust is at an all-time low.
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In a functioning democracy, the media serves as a conduit between the governed and those in power.
It mirrors the nation’s unvarnished reality while ensuring leaders are held accountable.
Yet, in Zimbabwe, transparency and accountability are seen as inconveniences.
The Press is expected to parrot government propaganda, while investigative journalism and criticism are treated as sabotage.
This administration tolerates only lapdog journalism.
Mnangagwa assured editors that his meeting with them was “the first of many”.
Given the arrest of journalist Blessed Mhlanga shortly after, another meeting seems unlikely.
Mnangagwa governs as if he still leads the intelligence services, not a democratic government.
Mhlanga’s continued detention — now at more than two weeks — is a blatant abuse of power.
His arrest is punishment for interviewing war veteran Blessed Geza, who dared to critique Mnangagwa and for exposing an attempted POSB Bank heist involving individuals close to the presidency.
It is also a calculated warning to journalists and citizens alike.
This tactic of lawfare — weaponising the legal system against dissenters — erodes public trust and stifles free speech.
Mnangagwa’s assault on the 2013 Constitution has resulted in judicial capture, a grim indictment of his regime.
Business and the public have lost faith in the courts.
This selective application of the law exposes the hollowness of the “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra.
No serious investor will risk their capital in a nation where the law can be twisted for political ends.
Zimbabwe’s failure to attract meaningful investment stems from this reality — hence the long list of “mega deals” that never materialise.
Mhlanga’s detention has further tarnished Zimbabwe's image thereby undermining its international standing.
Instead of silencing critics, it has strengthened the resolve of those fighting for a new Zimbabwe — one where democracy, human rights and Press freedom are non-negotiable.
Perhaps the saddest aspect of this lawfare is the public’s indifference.
Mnangagwa’s regime enjoys impunity because it knows there is no collective outrage.
Opposition politicians Job Sikhala, Jacob Ngarivhume and Jameson Timba, as well as human rights defender Namatai Kwekweza and countless others have suffered State-sponsored persecution with little public solidarity.
Zimbabweans have been beaten into submission, forgetting that the liberation struggle was about reclaiming dignity from the Ian Smith regime.
This national apathy is symptomatic of a broken society — one that cannot be healed through defective electoral rituals.
Our crisis is deeper than politics; it is a crisis of identity, values and nationhood.
Zimbabwe is not a nation in the true sense — our sense of belonging has been shattered.
The country is crying out for a fundamental transformation of its constitutional framework, social fabric and shared purpose.
Mhlanga is yet another victim of a vicious cycle where wounded people wound others.
This national tragedy will only end when Zimbabweans collectively redefine what it means to be a nation.
This is why an all-stakeholder conference is imperative — to craft a new social contract and rebuild our sense of unity.
The current dysfunction demands a fresh start.
None of the existing political actors — ruling or opposition — possess the credibility or capacity to undertake this national renewal.
Zimbabwe needs a national transitional authority to lay the groundwork for a new constitution, social contract and healing process.
Rebuilding Zimbabwe’s ruins requires a coalition of citizens of integrity, untainted by political factionalism, who are committed to service over self-interest.
The time for complacency is over. Zimbabwe must be reclaimed from all political factions and entrusted to those prepared to serve, not to be served.
We cannot patch up a crumbling foundation — we must build anew, ensuring the dreams and aspirations of future generations rest on solid ground.
https://convowithtrevor.com/icwt-newsletter-issue-102/
- Trevor Ncube is the chairman of Alpha Media Holdings and host of ICWT
