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"Zimbabwe does not need Press Freedom" says Information Minister
MISA-Zimbabwe
Extracted from MISA-Zimbabwe Monthly Alerts Digest - March 2004
April 21, 2004

Two weeks ago Information Minister was bold enough to finally admit, at least in public, the real intentions of the government policy on the media in Zimbabwe.

Addressing a group of diplomats, Minister Moyo declared that the Zimbabwe government does not believe in press freedom and instead believes in controlling and managing the media.

What Minister Moyo has done since 2000 confirms this statement. Concern in many circles is however, over the stark and shameful admission by a whole Minister and Professor that an independent country, that it calls itself a democracy "does not believe in press freedom". Minister Moyo has since 2000 endeavoured to give bizarre and mysterious interpretations of what press freedom and freedom of expression means. All along the Minister has hidden under the veil of "following the rule of law, that is the laws that he crafted, namely the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA). These laws were passed without an understanding or respect for democratic principles. They have so far been used to harass the private media only. The Department of Information and Publicity has spiritedly defended its media laws as conforming to regional and international norms and standards. Now the admission by the Minister puts to rest any doubts as to the real intention of the current media law regime, it is to suppress press freedom. Zimbabwe does not need it, according to Minister Moyo.

Minister Moyo says freedom of the press is different from freedom of expression since everyone is born with the right to freedom of expression. Events of the past four years show that no such rights in Zimbabwe whether bestowed by nature or given by man are respected. The use of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) on numerous occasions to suppress political gatherings by the opposition, peaceful demonstrations by the National Constitutional Assembly and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions invalidates Minister Moyo’s claims that freedom of expression is respected in Zimbabwe. Here are simple Zimbabwe workers, men and women who are arrested, beaten and trampled upon for simply marching in our city centers to press for certain changes. Those caught writing e mail messages to friends have equally been arrested and charged for spreading "subversive materials". What freedom of Expression is there we should ask?

Minister Moyo is desperately trying to invent new theories in the media, theories that suit the political will and machinations of the ruling party and government. For a start, freedom of expression cannot be separated from freedom of the media. Media entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe are entitled to freedom of expression through any means available this includes newspapers, TV and radio stations. These are but tools one uses to put freedom of expression into practice. The existence of a free and vibrant media in any society promotes dialogue and is, in many respects, a measure of how a society is free, tolerant and prepared to face its good and bad side without resorting to violent means. What Minister Moyo endeavours to see is a media that only listens to him, writes positively about the government and ruling party and indeed make Zimbabwe the heaven which it isn’t. Most of what Minister Moyo is pushing for, as said above, are policies of convenience with desired political ends. Most such policies last not a day longer than their proponents.

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