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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Talks, dialogue, negotiations and GNU - Post June 2008 "elections" - Index of articles
MISA-Zimbabwe
cautiously welcomes signing of MOU
MISA-Zimbabwe
July 22, 2008
MISA Zimbabwe
cautiously welcomes the signing of a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) between Zanu PF and the two formations
of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as the three main political
parties in Zimbabwe on 21 July 2008.
Our cautious
optimism is premised on the understating that while there is an
urgent need for dialogue in Zimbabwe - the dialogue in question
should not be the exclusive preserve and prerogative of political
parties alone but an inclusive process that embraces the inclusion
of civil society organizations as opposed to the exclusionary nature
of the MOU.
We reaffirm
civil society's position on the need for a new people driven constitution
that expressly guarantees media freedom as outlined in the Zimbabwe's
People's
Charter.
MISA Zimbabwe
further notes that two of the agenda items outlined in the MOU relate
to the 'media' and 'external' radio stations.
While we are not privy to the actual contents of the agenda items,
we are of the view that the two- week negotiation period should
be preceded by an unequivocal and explicit guarantee to the right
of freedom of expression, access to information and freedom of the
media through the following actions:
- An immediate
cessation of the arrests, harassment and torture of journalists
and media houses reporting on Zimbabwe.
- The granting
of permission to all media houses (both foreign and local) to
cover the political situation as it unfolds.
- The suspension
and subsequent repealing of all repressive legislation that targets
the media and in particular, the Access
to Information and Protections of Privacy Act (AIPPA), Public
Order and Security Act (POSA), Broadcasting
Services Act (BSA) and the Interception
of Communications Act.
- An immediate
conversion of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation from a state
broadcaster into a truly independent public broadcaster as mandated
under the guidelines of the African Charter on Broadcasting. This
should also be accompanied by a freeing of the airwaves to allow
for commercial and community broadcasting.
It is MISA-Zimbabwe's
strong submission that in the intervening interim period and in
view of these developments all policies relating to the media should
be guided and informed by the principles outlined under Article
9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights which states
that every individual shall have the right to receive information
and the right to express and disseminate his opinions within the
law.
The Windhoek
Declaration's Article 9 also states that: African states should
be encouraged to provide constitutional guarantees of freedom of
the press and freedom of association and expression".
MISA Zimbabwe
therefore implores the negotiating parties as well as the mediators
to remain true to the need for a transitional process that carries
the people's confidence. This can only be achieved in an environment
that immediately allows citizens to enjoy their fundamental right
to freedom of expression, association, assembly, access to information
and media freedom.
Visit
the MISA-Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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