Zimbabwe: CNN, BBC "enemy agencies"

Zimbabwe's ambassador to the United States has accused CNN and the BBC of being "enemy agencies" during a defence of the decision that banned journalists from both organisations from reporting from the country.

CNN International anchor Michael Holmes asked ambassador Machivenyika Mapuranga why Zimbabwe banned Western news organisations including CNN and the BBC from its territory.

"With your country in an economic meltdown and this political difficulty carrying on, why do you not allow Western news organizations to report from your country?" asked Holmes. "For example, CNN, we're not allowed to report from Zimbabwe. Why not? Will you allow us to do so?"

"No, we will not allow you to do that," responded Mapuranga, "because the CNN and the BBC they champion the imperialist interests of the British and the Americans, so they are totally biased, and..."

The fractious interview continued for another minute.

"How so? Why don't you allow us to come in there and report on the ground? It's very difficult to report from outside the country, isn't it?" asked Holmes.

"Because you will be misleading the world, so we do not allow enemy agencies, like the CNN and the BBC to report on Zimbabwe," responded Mapuranga, adding that CNN "espouse[s] the regime-change agenda of the United States government."

"Reporting the comments of other governments is not acting on their behalf: it's reporting," said Holmes, a suggestion that was dismissed by Mapuranga on the basis that "CNN reports on Zimbabwe, BBC reports on Zimbabwe... [are] clearly hostile."

"So you're saying no. If I wanted to come down and do some feature stories from Zimbabwe the answer is no?" asked Holmes.

"Yes, the answer is no," confirmed Mapuranga.

"Until when?" pressed Holmes.

"Until the opposition in Zimbabwe has renounced violence, and until... the British and the Americans abandon their policy of regime change," came the response.

"But what does that got to do with media organisations?" asked Holmes.

"Well, because the media organisations support these two governments," said Mapuranga. "You may say that is not the case, but we know that is the case."

"How can you accuse media organisations such as CNN and the BBC for that matter of this bias when you're on our air right now saying whatever it is you want to say?"

"Oh, right now, I think you -- it is -- you have no choice, but to try and hear what the government is saying. But when we allow you to go into Zimbabwe, we know that your agenda is not a noble one."

The interview was then concluded; it can be watched in full on CNN's international website. It came during a week in which Zimbabwe dominated international news coverage due to a government crackdown on opposition leaders; the subject of the BBC being banned from the country was also blogged about by the corporation's African bureaux editor.