6. Does the average person in Zimbabwe believe what they read in the local press these days?

If they are reading it from state owned newspapers they take it with a pinch of salt, especially if it’s political. People now rely on on-line publications, though Internet usage is still very minimal.

7. Prior to the problems of the last seven years, was the press in Zimbabwe a free press openly allowed to criticize the government when it wanted to?

It was not free as such, but we were able to criticize and get comments from the government officials. Some journalists like Trevor Ncube and Simba Makunike were arrested for writing that the president had married his secretary at a private ceremony. Back then it was better than it is now; things really got worse after The AIPPA law was enacted.

8. Have you heard about the journalist Gift Phiri who is about to stand trial for trumped up charges? Do you worry that reporting the truth in Zimbabwe could put you in a similar situation?

I know Gift and we are friends. Yes I do fear for my life but the people of Zimbabwe and the world over need to know (about) what’s happening in Zimbabwe. I was once arrested while working for The Daily News and when they released us they said they would proceed by way of summons. We were arrested for practicing journalism without an MIC license.

9. What can journalists in Zimbabwe get away with in the press these days? Can they jokingly say something negative about President Mugabe or will even that get them into trouble?

To be frank, you can't say anything negative about the president and get away with it. If the publication that publishes that story is not forced to retract the story, the reporter will be tracked down by the government’s security agents and they will make an arrest.

10. I know you work for the radio. Radio is one of the most important forms of media in Africa; is the radio more or less restricted than the written press?

Like I said earlier, the government still has a monopoly (on) the airwaves. All private Radio stations that broadcast in Zimbabwe are based outside the Zimbabwean borders like Studio 7 which is in Washington DC, Shortwave Africa in the United Kingdom and Radio VOP in South Africa.

11. What do you think will happen after President Robert Mugabe dies?

If he dies whilst still in power there might be a serious power struggle within his party as there is a lot of jostling for his position right now.

12. Do you believe the rumor that he has syphilis? Just joking, but seriously, why do you think his policies have changed so much in the last seven years?

I'm hearing the syphilis story for the first time from you. Ha Ha. On to a more serious issue, I think his polices changed soon after the main opposition party, The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), won a majority (of the) seats in parliament in the 2000 elections. (Mugabe) realized that if he did not change some of his policies he will lose power to the opposition.