HARARE – Herald editor Joram Nyathi has been suspended after being hauled over the coals for placing a story about President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s return from a four-country trip to Eastern Europe on page two of his paper.
Nyathi, who is just over a month in the job, was summoned to the Ministry of Information on Tuesday morning where his judgment was questioned, Zimpapers source said.
Nyathi said on Twitter: “Let me go cool home. I tried.”
The episode is just the latest demonstration of the Zanu PF government’s interference with state media, with editors hired or fired on the basis of political correctness.
ZimLive understands ministry officials are intent on appointing a new editor, with a former Zimpapers employee based abroad lined up as a replacement.
Nyathi replaced Caesar Zvayi in December. Zvayi took up a new position of editor at large.
Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Wadyajena, a Mnangagwa loyalist who opposed the editorial changes last December, said on Twitter that “something cooking over at Herald… It’ll all end with a lot of egg on some faces.”
Zimpapers CEO Pikirayi Deketeke was repeatedly said to be in meetings when his comment was sought.
