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Legal Monitor - Issue 142
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
May 11, 2012

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No freedom yet for Zim media on World Press Freedom Day

As the world commemorated World Press Freedom Day on 3 May last week, Zimbabwean journalists and ordinary citizens had little to cheer as they continue to suffer persecution by the State, which routinely uses criminal defamation and insult laws to charge dozens of people and suppress criticism.

In a statement commemorating World Press Freedom Day, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said the laws relied upon by the State to muzzle free speech are outdated and have no place in a modern democracy.

"ZLHR remains greatly concerned by the ever-increasing persecution through prosecution of media practitioners and ordinary members of society on charges of criminal defamation and use of insult laws. In a modern world where vigorous legitimate criticism has become the norm, only those who fear scrutiny and accountability continue to abuse the law, the police and the prosecutorial office to shield themselves," said ZLHR.

The group said the media is "regrettably and noticeably" being used to push the propaganda of some political parties and attack human rights defenders at a time when corruption is rife. "It is regrettable to note that some newspapers and electronic media continue to be used to further partisan political agendas and to attack legitimate human rights defenders with continued impunity at the expense of providing accurate, balanced, fair and ethical news and information, whilst worrying allegations of corruption and bribery within the media profession are yet to be properly interrogated," the organisation, which is dedicated to defending human rights in Zimbabwe, said.

"This situation prevails at the same time that investigative journalists who uncover shocking evidence of corruption and misgovernance are persecuted and prosecuted using colonial-style laws, instead of being acknowledged for their efforts to contribute to improved governance and accountability by exposing the rot in the public and private sectors," said ZLHR.

ZLHR director Irene Petras was, last year in May, among a group of journalists and civil society activists harassed by Namibian security agents while lobbying Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders to push for urgent reforms in member state, Zimbabwe.

The state broadcaster, ZBC later falsely claimed that the activists and journalists had gate-crashed a SADC meeting and had been sponsored by the Movement for Democratic Change party to influence SADC.

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