Bomb ZBC, says MDC activist Yuda

by Maxwell Katakamba 

Shepherd Yuda, a former prison officer from Harare to whom some publications give credit for being “the first Zimbabwean to expose on video Robert Mugabe’s vote rigging machinery during the June 2008 presidential elections’, has posted a sensitive comment on Jameson Timba’s Facebook timeline, encouraging people to ‘bomb ZBC as a matter of urgency.’

Shepherd Yuda (right). Photo: Brian Gilliland

The political activist was commenting on former MDC minister Timba’s resolution to stop his children from watching Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation television (ZBC) for allegedly failing to respect ‘African values for the next human being particularly respect for our elders.’

Yuda, a tall, highly trained weapons instructor himself who was once ranked third in an annual rifle contest and received an award from President Mugabe, is now living in the diaspora.

Posted Timba, a losing parliamentary candidate for the leading opposition party in Mount  Pleasant: “I have stopped my children from watching ZBC so that they don't unlearn the African values of respect for the next human being particularly respect for our elders.I do not want my children to be exposed to the hate speech being spewed through the national broadcaster.

He continued: "I say NO. I differ with Mai Joyce Mujuru politically but I respect her as a woman, a freedom fighter and an elder person to me.Those who appointed her to where she is should be brave enough to dis-appoint her and save us all from this daily vitriol and hate speech including confessions of unconstitutional invasion of her privacy.”

Petina Gappah said the aforementioned values matter for all, no matter what their political beliefs.

However Yuda was on the offensive: “We need ZBC bombed as a matter of urgency to stop soiling on our kids. He went on to call the First Lady a ‘bitch’ much to the dismay of Gappah, a respected lawyer.

“Shepherd Yuda, I believe that Jameson Timba's point is that there is never a need for personal attacks and disrespectful language. It is possible, you know, to criticise Grace Mugabe without calling her a "bitch" or such gendered terms. All the others here have managed to criticise her without being misogynist.”

Controversial politician Job 'Wiwa' Sikhala said the First Lady had gone mad. 

“The woman has gone bongus Mukoma(brother) Timba. She is a disgrace to ZANU PF and the nation.”

Lovemore Zigara

Responding to Yuda's comments, Lovemore Zigara, president of the award-winning Gweru Press Club, said the media grouping condemned the utterances in the strongest of terms and adding they should be treated with the contempt they deserve.

"We are for media diversity and pluralism. The utterances actually border on terrorism.Yes, we promote ethical journalism, but bombing professionals doing their work does not solve problems."

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists(ZUJ)'s Brenna Matendere said such reckless comments should not be tolerated, but rather discouraged.

Brenna Matendere

Norman Dururu

Norman Dururu, the Media Institute Of Southern Africa (MISA) Gweru Advocacy Committee chair said terrorism was an evil worse than unethical reportage and journalism of patronage.

"There are lawful ways of raising discontent with particular news organizations, and bombing them is certainly not one of them," said Dururu.