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MISA-Zimbabwe road show banned
Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe)
November 11, 2002

A road show that the MISA-Zimbabwe Advocacy Committee in Bulawayo had planned to hold in the city was banned on Saturday 9 November 2002.

MISA-Zimbabwe had initially been given a verbal go ahead by the police but this was withdrawn on Thursday 7 November 2002. The police in a letter to MISA-Zimbabwe said that they did not have enough manpower to monitor the event. "With reference to your application to hold a Road Show received on 5/11/2002, please be advised that authority has not been granted because of circumstances beyond our control," read the letter signed by Chief Superintendent C W Muzeza. "This office does not have enough manpower to cover the event, as officers are committed elsewhere," said Muzeza.

In a telephone discussion with the MISA-Zimbabwe Advocacy Officer, Takura Zhangazha, Muzeza said that he wanted to know what MISA does and what the agenda and aims of the show would be. He also said that the police were afraid that the show would turn political.

The road show was meant to publicize the concept of community broadcasting to residents of Bulawayo and also educate the public on the current media laws, especially the Broadcasting Services Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

MISA-Zimbabwe notes with concern that the banning of the show is yet another example of the infringement of the peoples right to freedom of association, assembly and expression as guaranteed in section 20 of the constitution.

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