Mugabe takes on South African press

Zimbabwe has lodged a complaint with President Thabo Mbeki’s government over what it called “the relentless demonisation” of President Robert Mugabe by the South African press.

A letter reportedly sent by Mugabe’s chief spokesman, Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, suggests Pretoria and Harare co-operate on a media strategy to find ways to end an “undesirable situation”.

The letter said media freedom is not a licence for “vested interests to insult a head of state from a friendly country”.

“Again this is not about gagging the media or anything of the sort,” Moyo’s letter said, “but about ensuring that the democratic Africa that we all want gets the media it truly deserves.”