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This article participates on the following special index pages:
New Constitution-making process - Index of articles
Info-powered
for media freedom and access to information in a new constitution
MISA-Zimbabwe
April 29, 2009
MISA Zimbabwe
joins the people of Zimbabwe and members of the media fraternity
in commemorating World Press Freedom Day. This year's World Press
Freedom Day occurs in a context that is influenced by the written
assertion of a commitment to freedom of expression and media diversity
in Article 19 of the Global
Political Agreement.
It also occurs within
a context within which once again MISA Zimbabwe has to call for
the cessation of the harassment, arrest, detention and torture of
journalists as well as media professionals.
The warrant
of arrest issued for freelance journalist, Shadreck Andrison Manyere
who had been released on bail on the 17 April, 2009 as well as the
criminal defamation charges levelled against the editor of The Chronicle,
Brezhnev Malaba and reporter, Nduduzo Tshuma are undemocratic and
inimical to freedom of expression and media freedom.
The continued
delay in the introduction of new media players as well as the continued
ban on previously operational private newspapers through the retention
of the Access
to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Broadcasting
Services Act, the Public
Order and Security Act as well as the Criminal
Codification and Reform Act are indicative of the urgent need
for holistic democratic media law reform.
To this end,
MISA Zimbabwe's theme for World Press Freedom Day this year is,
Info-powered for media freedom and access to information in
a new constitution, calls upon the government, parliament,
civil society and members of the public to act in unison in order
to arrive at a new democratic constitution for Zimbabwe that guarantees
press freedom, freedom of expression and access to information.
MISA Zimbabwe also urges
the Parliament of Zimbabwe to repeal AIPPA, POSA, BSA, and the Criminal
Law Codification and Reform Act as these laws serve to undermine
media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information.
Visit
the MISA-Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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