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Journalists National Meeting
Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe)
October 21, 2002

An array of concerns were highlighted at a national meeting held on October 19 for media stakeholders to examine critical issues regarding the registration/accreditation of media practitioners and mass media service organizations under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The meeting was organized by MISA-Zimbabwe in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, Independent Journalists Association of Zimbabwe, the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe, Federation of African Media Women and the Foreign Correspondents Association. These groups constitute a media committee that was set up by a national meeting of journalists that met on 19 January 2002.

The meeting culminated with participants agreeing to a number of resolutions that would chart the way forward for media practitioners to counter the repressive clauses contained within AIPPA.

During the discussion the most common and strongest sentiment that was expressed was complete disapproval of AIPPA and its negative effects on the operations of media practitioners and mass information providers. Over 120 media practitioners from all over Zimbabwe attended this national consultative meeting. These included journalists, editors, freelance journalists, media students, video and film producers and advertisers.

The meeting discussed three options available: to register and keep quiet or to register and protest or to defy the registration requirement completely.

However as Geoff Nyarota, Editor in Chief of The Daily News and Chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum said, "the muzzling of the private press was patently the main objective of AIPPA. "The Editors of the private newspapers obviiously do not support the legislation. They have so far been major targets of AIPPA, after all. But we realize that if we do not register we are giving Jonathan Moyo victory on a plate. The journalists are more strategically positioned if they fight AIPPA from their offices and newsrooms." he said.

This opinion was supported by the heads of the media and mass information service providers and organizations who stressed that they disapproved of AIPPA but felt that it was both prudent and strategic to survive to fight against the clampdown of alternative voices in the country.

However stakeholders agreed that while there are media practitioners who would register this would be followed by a strategic and sustained programme of protest. The meeting also noted that there are journalist who would choose to defy and these would be supported by their colleagues and media organizations on their stance.

The meeting agreed that the existing Media Committee should be expanded to include representatives from the film and video sector, advertising sector and the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum.

The genesis of the 19 October meeting dates back to 27 September 2002, when the Media Committee met to discuss the deadline of registration and chart the way forward. Several other meetings were held prior to the 19 October meeting. It was decided that there is need to urgently consult media stakeholders before the 31 December deadline. The meeting was held in a discursive and participatory manner

The following resolutions were agreed upon:

1. That the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act is an unacceptable piece of legislation.
2. That all journalists and media workers will protest against the AIPPA through demonstrations and defiance of the Accreditation requirements of the Media and Information Commission. The demonstrations will begin as of next week in protest at the amendments to the AIPPA that are currently before the Parliament of Zimbabwe.
3. That all journalists and media workers shall engage in a massive public awareness programme to tell the people of Zimbabwe why they are opposed to the AIPPA.
4. That all journalists and media workers shall seek cooperation with broader civic society on engaging in the public awareness programme and protection of freedom of Information in Zimbabwe.
5. That the decision to become accredited as a media worker or as a journalist under the AIPPA and the Media and Information Commission shall be the sole prerogative of each individual journalist or media worker.
6. That there shall be the setting up of a Media and Freedom of Expression Support Fund that will assist all media workers and journalists that become accredited or are denied accreditation or alternatively do not want to seek accreditation. This Media Support Fund shall be governed by representatives of Media Houses that attended the Saturday 19 October 2002 Media Workers and Journalists Meeting.
7. That a Committee be set up comprising of the various Media Houses and Media Unions or Organizations present at the meeting to ensure that the resolutions of the Saturday October 19 meeting are carried out.

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