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2018 | Book

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Private Print Media, the State and Politics in Colonial and Post-Colonial Zimbabwe

Author: Dr. Sylvester Dombo

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" , Springer Professional "Technik"

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About this book

This book examines the role played by two popular private newspapers in the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe, one case from colonial Rhodesia and the other from the post-colonial era. It argues that, operating under oppressive political regimes and in the dearth of credible opposition political parties or as a platform for opposition political parties, the African Daily News, between 1956-1964, and the Daily News, between 1999-2003, played an essential role in opening up spaces for political freedom in the country. Both newspapers were ultimately shut down by the respective government of the time. The newspapers allowed reading publics the opportunity to participate in politics by providing a daily analytical alternative, to that offered by the government and the state media, in relation to the respective political crises that unfolded in each of these periods. The book further examines both the information policies pursued by the different governments and the way these affected the functioning of private media in their quest to provide an "ideal" public sphere. It explores issues of ownership, funding and editorial policies in reference to each case and how these affected the production of news and issue coverage. It considers issues of class and geography in shaping public response. It also focuses on state reactions to the activities of these newspapers and how these, in turn, affected the activities of private media actors. Finally, it considers the cases together to consider the meanings of the closing down of these newspapers during the two eras under discussion and contributes to the debates about print media vis-à-vis the new forms of media that have come to the fore.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Introduction
Abstract
This book is a life history of two popular private daily newspapers that operated in Zimbabwe; one during the colonial era and the other during the post-independence period. Operating under difficult political and economic conditions, the newspapers became mouthpieces of disparate opposition groups that sought to fight for democracy in the country. Running under almost similar titles, the newspapers exposed the glaring shortcomings of both regimes, which culminated in their closures. The story of these two newspapers offers us an insight into the role of the press in fostering democracy and how those in power often interact with the press and with what consequences to both parties.
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 2. Colonialism and the Development of the Press in Zimbabwe
Abstract
This chapter traces the development of the press during the early days of colonialism up to the birth of the African Daily News. It acts as an overview to the factors that promoted or hindered the development of the press in the country. It argues that the development of the press in the country cannot be looked at in isolation with the growth of colonialism in the region. The main actors in colonialism are the same actors in the development of the press. This also in a way shows the motives of this press and its attitude to the Africans.
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 3. African Newspapers and the Development of the Private Press in Rhodesia
Abstract
This chapter looks at the role played by African Newspapers Limited in the growth of newspapers for Africans in Rhodesia. It looks at the production of the earliest newspapers by the company that culminated in the birth of the African Daily News, which later became the flagship newspaper of the company and the first daily newspaper in the country. The story of the birth of the African Daily News can never be complete without looking at the early newspapers like the Bantu Mirror and the African Weekly, which were later merged into the daily newspaper. In addition, issues of alliances between the newspaper’s proprietors and the political powers of the day will be discussed as it greatly shaped the trajectory of newspapers for Africans. Finally, I question the whole high-sounding slogan of these newspapers being “for Africans and by Africans.” In essence, I question the role played by Africans in the production of newspapers.
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 4. African Daily News and Early African Politics in Rhodesia
Abstract
This chapter looks at the early days of the African Daily News and its relationship with various constituencies that represented Rhodesia politics. It argues that the newspaper was earmarked as a propaganda tool by the Rhodesian government to support the idea of federation and racial cooperation. As a result, it was constantly at loggerheads with the African middle class and trade unionists who felt that the paper did not represent their interests.
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 5. ‘We Are at a Political Crossroad’: Press and Politics in Rhodesia, 1958–1964
Abstract
This chapter looks at the fast-changing Rhodesian political environment and how it transformed the African Daily News to a radical newspaper. It argues that the birth of African political parties led to a departure from racial cooperation as espoused by the idea of federation. This departure put the newspaper at a crossroad as it had to make a difficult decision of sticking with the increasingly radical politics by the Europeans. In the end, the newspaper ended up supporting African political parties. Thus politics and the press become radicalised during this era, and this created a conducive for an onslaught against press freedom.
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 6. Press and Politics in Independent Zimbabwe to 1999
Abstract
This chapter lays an overview of the development of the press in independent Zimbabwe. It gives a cursory look at the newspapers that operated in the country up to 1999 when the Daily News was formed. I argue that at independence, the ruling elites conveniently forgot their promise of a free press in the country. They simply replaced the former colonial masters thereby continuing the trend of press oppression.
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 7. “Telling It Like It Is?”: The Daily News and Zimbabwean Political Crisis to 2000
Abstract
The birth of the Daily News greatly changed Zimbabwe’s political history. Established at a time when the country’s politics and economy were fast deteriorating and using the theme “telling it like it is,” the newspapers inevitably got into conflict with the government. This chapter therefore looks at the birth of this newspaper, the political environment in the country and how it related with the authorities. It also question the paper’s supposed motto of “telling it as it is.”
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 8. ‘Uneasy Bedfellows’: The Daily News and The State 1999–2003
Abstract
This chapter is a continuation of the analysis of the Daily News’ coverage of politics in Zimbabwe. It focuses primarily on elections and election related violence. It argues that the newspaper acted like a mouthpiece of the opposition as it exposed the ruling party’s involvement in electoral fraud and violence. Inevitably, the activities of the Daily News would result in several clashes with the authorities culminating in its closure in 2003.
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 9. Predictable and Unavoidable: The Closure of the African Daily News and Daily News
Abstract
This chapter compares the closures of the two newspapers and the responses they generated both local and international. It argues that the two regimes were hell bent on silencing the private press for their own political expediency.
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 10. The Rise of the Alternative Media
Abstract
This chapter looks at the media landscape in Zimbabwe after the banning of both the African Daily News and the Daily News. As the only daily newspapers of the time, their closures had serious and damaging implications on the politics of the country. However, with time, there was a rise of alternative media that sought to fill the void. This chapter therefore looks at these alternative media, which appeared in the form of underground newspapers as well as online newspapers.
Sylvester Dombo
Chapter 11. Press and Politics in Zimbabwe: Concluding Remarks
Abstract
This is a conclusion of the whole book, which debates the impact of the press on Zimbabwean politics. It takes various cases and puts them together to argue that indeed, the press is a powerful factor in politics and as such those in authority seek to silence the fourth estate.
Sylvester Dombo
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Private Print Media, the State and Politics in Colonial and Post-Colonial Zimbabwe
Author
Dr. Sylvester Dombo
Copyright Year
2018
Electronic ISBN
978-3-319-61890-6
Print ISBN
978-3-319-61889-0
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61890-6