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Zimbabwe
parties agree to unban media outlets
European Journalism
Centre
September 18, 2008
http://www.ejc.net/media_news/zimbabwe_parties_agree_to_unban_media_outlets/
Zimbabwe has
agreed to open up its media space in a move that could see the return
of banned privately run newspapers and television stations, while
criminalising the use of hate language in the media, APA learnt
here on Tuesday.
The country's
three main political parties have resolved to ensure the immediate
processing of all applications for "re-registration and registration
in terms of the Broadcasting
Services Act (BSA) and the Access
to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA)".
BSA was used to close at least two private television stations in
2001 and led to the creation of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe
whose main mandate was to process applications for licences by non-state
players in the industry.
No broadcasting licence
has been awarded during the seven years of BAZ's existence, resulting
in allegations that the authority was frustrating prospective private
broadcasters in order to maintain the monopoly of the state-run
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
AIPPA was used to shut
down at least four private newspapers, including the country's then
largest circulating daily newspaper, the Daily News, and its sister
publication, the Daily News on Sunday, which were closed in September
2003.
Subsequent applications
for re-registration by Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe, publishers
of the Daily News, have failed despite a court ruling describing
the newspaper's closure as unconstitutional.
The freeing of the media
space could also see the re-registration of major Western television
networks such as the British Broadcasting Corporation, Cable News
Network and Sky News which have been banned from operating in Zimbabwe.
The political parties also said the public and private media should
refrain from using abusive language that may incite hostility, political
intolerance and ethnic hatred or that unfairly undermines political
parties and other organisations.
"To this end, the
inclusive government shall ensure that appropriate measures are
taken to achieve this objective," the parties said.
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