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ZIWAPHI • VOL 4 NO 7 • 9 - 22 APRIL 2010

When the Acting Editor of Ziwaphi asked me to write a piece to mark the existence of the newspaper, drawing on my own experience as the publisher of the newspaper. My preoccupation was, predictably, to focus on how we are going to ensure the continued existence of the publication than to focus on our achievements.

Admittedly, that is an injustice, particularly to the journalists who have to assess each and every article if it will meet the objectives of the publication or the information needs of the readers; the newsmakers who have never dreamt in their lives that stories would be written about them – these include the women who have self-help businesses in their backyards or hair saloons; and the loyal readers who religiously buy the newspaper.

There are also other important role players such as advertisers and the theoreticians who have to conceptualise, analyse and develop thought provoking articles. As a publisher I wish to thank them all, for making sure that the voice of our people has survived this long.

I must admit that when we started the newspaper, profit was not the motive, as it is still not. As former activists who had ensured the demise of apartheid regime and all its ramifications, we were more concerned that apartheid ideology remained predominant, as it still is. We felt that we had an obligation to ensure that it was completely obliterated.

We also realized that the problem was not that white racists have to be on the offensive to promote their ideology, but that as a result of years of colonial and apartheid misrule, some black people have succumbed to the apartheid ideology. They have accepted, as Steve Biko once said, “that blacks cannot formulate their thoughts without white guidance and trusteeship.”

Our own government also acknowledged this when it instituted an investigation on the ownership and control of the media in the country. The outcome of the investigation confirmed what was already known, that the ownership and control of the media had a profound bearing in shaping public discourse.

It recommended the formation of the Media Development and Diversity Agency to encourage ownership and control of, and access to, media by historically disadvantaged communities, historically diminished indigenous language and cultural groups.

As stated earlier, my preoccupation as a publisher is to ensure that the newspaper is sustainable. Therefore since its inception three years ago, Ziwaphi has been engaging government officials and politicians in the province and municipalities, which are the main sources of revenue for our newspaper, and the private sector to appeal to them to support the diversification of the media through equitable placement of advertisements in black owned and white newspapers.

We have managed to score some successes with some of the government departments and municipalities, however, there is still resistance from some government officials, particularly the younger generation who have to be made familiar with the objectives of our revolution.

The same resistance, though more arrogant, was evident in the private sector, where one businessman said to our representative, “blacks must solve their own problems”.

I have never been a Black Consciousness fanatic, but I almost felt as if the late BC leader Steve Biko were talking to me when he said, “Black man, you are on your own.” Biko was killed by the apartheid police inside prison for merely expressing his views which were aimed at liberating the minds of those blacks who still believe that everything white is right and that everything black is inferior.

Not that Biko downplayed the fact that blacks were oppressed and needed to be liberated, but his philosophy emphasised the need to liberate the black people from, a sometimes, self-imposed mental slavery.

He, clearly, was killed too soon! There are a lot of souls out there that still need  to be liberated.

Overall, Ziwaphi has not only survived the most hostile political environment, journalist buying and the worst economic recession in our lifetime, but it has succeeded to play its role in shaping public opinion on issues affecting our province and our people.

In its short history, Ziwaphi continues to build on its proud record of fearless and independent reporting and provides the most respected and credible forum for debating matters of public interest.

To the editorial collective under the capable leadership of, firstly our former editor, Mpumi Mtshali and current acting editor, Phinda Comrade Mzala, we say, Unwele olude!

Publisher - Tom Nkosi