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World Press Freedom Day statement
Zimbabwe
Election Support Network
May 03, 2012
The Zimbabwe
Election Support Network (ZESN) joins the rest of the world in commemorating
World Press Freedom day. This year's celebrations run under
the theme "Media Freedom has the Power to Transform Societies".
ZESN notes that
this day comes against the background of continued calls for media
freedom, plurality and diversity in Zimbabwe. The media in Zimbabwe
remains highly polarized despite provisions under the Global
Political Agreement to bring to an end media biased reportage
and allow more players in both the Print and Broadcast media. Though
a number of publications and radio stations have been given the
green light to operate, ZESN believes that more still needs to be
done to open the media environment.
Repressive media legislation continues to exist in Zimbabwe, for
instance such laws as the Access
to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the
Broadcasting
Services Act as well as provisions that oppress media freedom,
free association and assembly in the Public
Order and Security Act and the Criminal
Law Codification and Reform Act. ZESN also notes with concern
the continued harassment of journalists especially those from the
private media as an attempt to muzzle divergent and dissenting voices
in the media space.
The media has
a vital role to play in the transformation of societies through
education, citizen awareness programmes and provision of important
political, social, cultural and economic information. ZESN reiterates
that for the media to be able to play this role effectively measures
must be put in place to ensure that the media operating space is
free of interference from other arms of the state.
As the world
celebrates World Press Freedom Day, ZESN calls for the opening up
of the media environment, repel of restrictive and oppressive media
legislation and depoliticization of all media outlets.
Visit the ZESN
fact
sheet
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