Kingsley Sibanda, "You feel like a bandit fighting a sitting government"

All Zimbabwean journalists are required to register with the state-appointed media board that vets applicants. Kingsley Sibanda (not his real name), 30, is struggling to survive as an unaccredited freelance journalist writing for foreign publications.



"I was last employed formally as a journalist in 2003, when the newspaper I worked for, the Daily News, was closed down by the government, which accused it of operating without a licence. Since then I have gone underground, writing stories for two newspapers, one in South Africa and another in the United States.



"I know there are so many others who are doing what I am doing - literally operating from underground — and the going is extremely tough. Working as an unaccredited freelancer in this country gives you the daily burden of feeling as though you are a bandit fighting a sitting government, thanks to AIPPA [Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act] and the prowling security agents, who are only too happy to hunt you down like a rat.



"Writing stories is made even more difficult by the fact that, since I don't have resources of my own, I have to travel into town regularly to use the internet, whose rates go up every day because of inflation, just like commuter fares. Sometimes I am forced to borrow money from friends and while I await payment, which comes after long periods, my family lives from hand to mouth.



"It is difficult to make appointments for interviews because cellular phone networks are bad and even if they were not, the tariffs are prohibitive.



"I travel to South Africa to collect my money after every three or four months and it is always a hassle raising money for the visa. Crossing the border to and from Zimbabwe gives me the goose pimples, as the immigration officials treat me with suspicion simply because my passport indicates that I am a journalist, and at times hold onto to my passport for too long, apparently to check if I am not on the government black list.



"It is always a relief to get my money in foreign currency, as the local dollar is now virtually useless. I never imagined I would do this, but when I get paid, I join hundreds of other people on the streets selling foreign currency to ensure that I don't just spend, but generate more foreign currency.



"I have given up on the idea of getting into formal employment once again in this country. The media industry is now so small, mostly because of the government closures, but also due to the fact that media houses are operating in a hostile economic environment.



"Journalism, like other professions, is painfully low paying. In fact, I know of several colleagues working for the state media who are freelancing for the so-called hostile news organisations, and that is understandable, because they are battling to survive."

 

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