By Tendai Chisiri
European Union (UN) and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) could be at loggerheads with the former misquoted as ZEC distances itself to the facts that EU has suspended them which is awash in the media.
ZEC has refuted allegations that they have been suspended as such news has not disseminated the them which highlights disinformation and misinformation in media as both parties are not entertained with a resolute task to the information of suspension which the public has received.
In a related information, ZEC is paying for the 2023 Elections and they have a due date on 30 September when the receivers last get they payment or the Commission would be not be doing the disbursements EU calls upon transparency even if the polls are over they as they look forward to have the project with ZEC going.
In issuing the statement, EU as a stakeholder to the funds being disbursed by ZEC is urging the latter to be accountable for them to keep the ties. In such a scenario, ZEC does not have the effort to know if they are suspended or not as they are still doing the disbursements for the 2023 Elections that took place in Zimbabwe around August.
Media portrayed ZEC as without any activity that could be mentioned by EU although the disbursements were in process when they depicted them as the suspended entity. ZEC besides holding elections also have partners who help them for the process to be carried out.
Government portrayed the suspension as a non-starter in the state media whilst the private media Newsday said ZEC were coy to the move. Few could understand that they were just threats whilst the publilll saw the newly elected-government in isolation to international community.
Media both small and bring must verify to see if the information is correct online instead of taking what another media house has said . Some media houses are small and so inequitable to have articles for big media houses. As media gather information, the aspect of interviewing both parties show that the story is not falsehood.
Writers sensationalise without understanding how the audience are eager to hear the news not what could happen if the other part fails.Media need to have self-interest when reporting as there is need to build reputation. One as an individual being in the media need to be identified as a reliable source.
Furthermore, verification and fact check is important as it is good for the health for both the reader and the writer. For personal and public good health, to verify is paramount as other organizations may help the writer not to be disinformed online which is the digital space. It is also public responsibility for media to deal with truthfulness. Verification and fact-checking work hand in hand to prevent the spread of false information, for information to be accurate and promote accountability.
Vice chairman of VMCZ, veteran journalist, serves on VMCZ Training Committee, Chris Chinaka in a workshop by Veritas Zimbawe for verification and fact-checking in media said Zimbabwe is a hyper sensitive state. In a nutshell, he emphasized the need for the media to avoid sensationalism.
News Sport Online 