Mugabe's downfall: A new era for Zimbabwe's media?

The media story behind the downfall of Robert Mugabe after 37 years in power. Plus, police vs the press in Uganda.

When the moment finally came, it caught many Zimbabweans - their media included - by surprise: After 37 years in power culminating in a week-long struggle, 93-year-old Robert Mugabe resigned as Zimbabwe's president.

The transition began when tanks rolled onto the streets of the capital, Harare, and a man in a military uniform appeared on the state-owned TV channel assuring everyone that what looked like a coup and sounded like a coup was, in fact, not a coup.

During seven days of constitutional limbo, the country's mainstream journalists - many of whom had spent decades toeing the government line - seemed unsure who they were taking their orders from, or what line they were supposed to take.

Who is in charge of Zimbabwe?

The embattled President Robert Mugabe is clinging to power and faces impeachment.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe appears to have ignored a deadline to resign. His ruling ZANU-PF party had told him he must step down by Monday or be impeached.

Now it says that process will begin. The party is accusing Mugabe of being responsible for political instability and an unprecedented economic tailspin. And frustration is turning to anger with hundreds of students out protesting, demanding Mugabe leave office.

The military coup in Zimbabwe, explained

On November 14th 2017, Zimbabwe military troops drove tanks into the capital city, Harare. They patrolled the streets, blocked access to government buildings, and took over the state television station to insist…. This is not a military takeover of government. Once praised as a war hero, Robert Mugabe helped Zimbabwe win independence from Great Britain in 1980. He became president under Zimbabwe’s new constitution with the support of the people.

India: Godmen, Con Men and the Media

We analyse how Indian media cover the so-called 'godmen' in the country. And we look at Mugabe and the Zimbabwean media.

India is dealing with the fallout from an unusual kind of protest that took place last weekend. Thirty-eight people were killed during a violent demonstration against the conviction of the leader of a religious sect for raping two of his female followers.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, one of India's so-called "godmen", has as many as 60 million online devotees, and last weekend's protest was not the first to turn violent in his defence. The reporter who first revealed Singh's sexual misconduct was shot dead shortly after the story broke. 

Singh is a flamboyant character who has used the Indian airwaves to build a one-man publicity machine, and his case has shed a light on how sect leaders are presented in the Indian media.