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Dawn of a new era?
Nyasha Nyakunu, MISA-Zimbabwe
Extracted from the Monthly Media Alerts Digest April 2005
May 16, 2005

The new Minister of Information and Publicity Dr Tichaona Jokonya must have found his in-tray over-flowing with unresolved issues pertaining to Zimbabwe's media environment following his appointment in the post-March 2005 parliamentary elections.

Jokonya took charge of the reins from Professor Jonathan Moyo following his ignominious exit from both the ruling Zanu PF and government.

Media practitioners, journalists, human rights activists and the international community, will obviously be following with keen interest the new minister's policy decisions amid the incessant calls for drastic media law reforms.

As he acclamatises to the new environment following years of service as one of the country's top diplomats, the new minister should be wary of Moyo's shadow which is is still lurking in the vicinity.

Observers and other key interest groups will closely be observing whether the new minister will be a clone of Moyo who took no prisoners in his brutal onslaught against journalists working for the private press and his perceived enemies within and without the Zanu PF political realm.

In choosing which path to follow, Jokonya should be wary of the fact that the contentious repressive media laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and Public Order and Security Act (POSA) which Moyo defended ruthlessly, have somehow contributed to the country's socio-economic woes and pariah-nation status.

He should also be mindful of the fact that in defending these laws as he presided over the country's media policies, the former minister was motivated by self-interest as opposed to his feigned patriotic zeal.

Otherwise, how else does one explain Moyo's assertions that the Zimbabwe government does not believe in press freedom.

For a whole professor to have said this of a government and country which has endorsed regional and international conventions which espouse and uphold the principles of free speech and association and the vital role played by an unfettered media, ranks as one of the former minister's most costly guffaws.

In that vein, MISA-Zimbabwe welcomes Jokonya's pledge towards the establishment of a conducive media environment and most importantly, his invitation for journalists to make submissions on the contentious sections of AIPPA which need to be revisited.

Deep soul-searching as to what Zimbabwe desires in terms of its aspirations and democratic values, should guide him as he works towards that eventuality. We implore him to pay due diligence to the fact that every person, given the opportunity, would choose to live in a democracy.

Zimbabweans are no exception in that regard.

In tackling these issues he should listen to the voices of reason and echoes from the past. He should draw inspiration and resolve from among others, the late Zanu PF guru, Dr Eddisson Zvobgo, who described AIPPA as the "most determined onslaught on our civil liberties" in his 20 years as a Cabinet minister.

"If the people of any country want and work for a more transparent and efficient government and economy," says Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, "then they must fight for the freedom of those who disseminate information.

"They must fight for the right to know and the right to tell it like it is."

It is hoped that Jokonya's reconciliatory overtures will culminate in the dawn of a new era borne of a reformed media environment which will enable the media to play its watchdog role without hindrance from anti-democratic media laws such as AIPPA, POSA and BSA.

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