Daily News ordered to publish an apology to Prophet Angel

The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe's Media Complaints Committee (MCC) has ruled that The Daily News has to publish an apology to Prophet Uerbert Angel within seven days and should receive the same prominence as the original article.

Prophet Angel filed a complaint over an article published in the Daily News of 29 May 2012 headed "Makandiwa Ally attacks TB Joshua". The article alleged that one of Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa's closest allies, Prophet Uerbert Angel attacked Nigerian Prophet TB Joshua during one of his sermons.

Prophet Angel alleges that the article inclusive of its headline and content is false, misleading and defamatory.

Prophet Angel sent a complaint letter to the Daily News which was published by the newspaper on 8th June 2012. Prophet Angel wants the Daily News to publish an apology as he feels that his letter of complaint published in the newspaper does not constitute an apology

Ruling
The Media Complaints Committee (MCC) on Wednesday 18 July 2012 sat to hear the matter. Prophet Angel was represented at the hearing by Pastor Mubatsi while the Daily News was represented by Senior Assistant Editor, Guthrie Munyuki.

Both parties submitted their position on the matter to the committee and a video clip of the sermon quoted by the newspaper was viewed at the meeting and the Daily News conceded there was a misunderstanding and offered to publish an apology to Prophet Angel.

The MCC ruled that the apology has to be published within seven days and should receive the same prominence as the original article.

The MCC also urged the media to be cautious when covering faith issues due to the sensitive nature of religion.

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