The Standard – Zim
8/2/04

Another Zimpapers Editor in trouble for plagiarism
By Our Own Staff

PHYLLIS Kachere, the desk editor of Metro magazine, a supplement in the State-controlled weekly, The Sunday Mail, was last week suspended from the paper for one week and demoted after she plagiarised an article from Kenya”s Nation newspaper”s Saturday Magazine.

Kachere, who authors Steaming Off a weekly light hearted column in the paper wrote an article published on January 11 entitled: “Learn the Very Simple Art of Charming Ladies, which extensively copied a story by Kenyan journalist Catherine Awuor of the Saturday Magazine.

Awour”s story appeared in the Kenyan magazine”s issue of December 27 last year.

Kachere”s and Awuor”s work entitled “Help! Can”t get a girlfriend shows that The Sunday Mail”s article is not original and is an exact copy of Awour”s.

In one section, Awuor writes: “I have seen a friend of mine fall for the line, “you look familiar, were we in the same high school; she was in a girls” only school but he got her talking”.”

Kachere on the other hand wrote: “I once fell for the line, “you look familiar, were we in the same high school? The guy got me talking and that result got me in a two-year affair.

In another part, Awuor writes : “Today”s article is for the man whose idea of dinner is Kenchic take away (a popular Kenyan restaurant)…, Kachere wrote: “Today”s article is for the man whose idea of dinner is Cresta Mbare (some eating spot in Harare”s Mbare high-density suburb.)

Awuor continues: “To give details of the evening don”t sms. A text that reads: “W 8 4 me@simas”. It just won”t do.. Kachere wrote: “W 8 4 me @ KFC just won”t do.

Last year two other Zimpapers employees Tim Chigodo and Shingai Rukwata Ndoro also got in trouble for fraudulently plagiarising other journalists” work.

Chigodo was forced to quit while Rukwata Ndoro, a freelance journalist who also worked in the newspaper”s circulation department, was transferred. He has since left Zimpapers.

however..the say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.This guy must idolise u…the fact that he even reads ur blog means alot…..SO,after u sue his clay a$$ and take over writin in a certain newspaper…i suggest we welcome him to blogring “thinker’s servant quarter’s room”

I think we all owe you M for your fearless writing hehe – and ofcourse with Ory’s brilliant advocacy via global voices- you have helped validate the growing eveolution of blogs in the context of Kenya.

Our opinions are becoming stronger and stronger by the day!