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U.S. calls on Zimbabwe to lift media restrictions
US Embassy, Harare
May 05, 2009

The United States urged the government of Zimbabwe to lift restrictions on the media to promote the free flow of information, as an independent media watchdog called on the inclusive government to prioritize media reform ahead of the constitution making process.

Speaking at a reception to launch the "Lost Voices" exhibition to mark World Press Freedom Day in Harare on Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee said a free and dynamic media remained an important component of his country's bilateral relations with Zimbabwe.

"Zimbabwe stands at the door of incredible opportunity. The world is watching to see if the country will open the door with a new commitment to freedom of expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press," said the U.S. Ambassador.

"The world wants to know, I want to know and most importantly, Zimbabweans have the right to know," said McGee.

Zimbabwe's press freedom record has been a subject of international criticism. In his statement on World Press Freedom Day, U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the jailing or active harassment of journalists in Zimbabwe, and other countries.

"In every corner of the globe, there are journalists in jail or being actively harassed: from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, Burma to Uzbekistan, Cuba to Eritrea," said President Obama.

The "Lost Voices" exhibition, a joint initiative of the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section and the Media Monitoring Project (MMPZ), features reproductions from various publications printed since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.

Prominent among these is The Daily News, which was first launched on March 31, 1999. It was controversially banned in 2003 for allegedly operating without a license after it lost Supreme Court challenges to the requirement that it register with a government media regulatory agency.

This year WPF Day comes at a time when the inclusive government considers an array of reforms in the media sector. There have also been discussions on constitutional reforms.

MMPZ called on government to prioritize media reform ahead of the constitution making process.

"We cannot embark on a constitution making process before the media is reformed because you need a free media to reach the people out there," said MMPZ board member, Beatrice Mtetwa.

Mtetwa also emphasized the need to encourage professionalism in the publicly funded media noting that journalists in these media 'had long lost their voices.'

"What gets published in the state media are not voices of journalists. Those are voices of politicians," said Mtetwa.

"Those of you who read the Sunday Mail in the early 80s under the editorship of Willie Musarurwa will know that the Sunday Mail you read today is not a Sunday Mail that is produced by journalists. The same applies to the Chronicle when it was being edited by Geoffrey Nyarota," said Mtetwa who also called for the abolition of government ministries that control media.

Other speakers at the launch, which was also attended by government officials, journalists and representatives of civil society organizations, lamented what they described as "Zimbabwe's present media waste land."

"Wasteland it certainly is. When one looks at the voices here that once informed Zimbabwean society, you get some idea of the losses we have suffered over the last 10 years as government suffocated the right to freedom of expression and the right to be informed," said Andy Moyse, head of MMPZ, an independent media watchdog that works to promote responsible journalism.

Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Jameson Timba said "there is limited media freedom in Zimbabwe" but noted that "opportunities to create plural voices do exist under the existing laws." Timba cited amendments made to media laws enacted in January 10, 2008.

He said Zimbabwe has the capacity to have more media in broadcasting including 31 local commercial radio stations and 60 district-based community-based radio stations as well as an additional unallocated 13 medium wave channels. He criticized continued threats and arrests of journalists

"We need to shout loud enough and say that is not right for our country. A free press and freedom of expression is a necessary for democracy and that we must defend as a matter of principle," said Timba.

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