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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Index of articles on enforced disappearances in Zimbabwe
Minister
condemns arrest of journalists
MISA-Zimbabwe
April 29, 2009
The Deputy Minister of
Media, Information and Publicity, Jameson Timba on 2 May 2009 condemned
the arrest of Chronicle Editor, Brezhnev Malaba, reporter Nduduzo
Tshuma and the paper's general manager Sithembile Ncube citing that
the criminal defamation charges against them as unfortunate and
unacceptable as there are civil defamation laws of settling the
matters by the parties which would have been aggrieved.
Malaba, Tshuma and Ncube are facing criminal defamation charges
over a story that the paper published in February this year which
alleged police involvement in a maize scandal at the Grain Marketing
Board (GMB).
Timba castigated the arrests whilst addressing journalists in Bulawayo
during the World Press Freedom Day commemorations organized by the
Zimbabwe Union
of Journalists (ZUJ) in collaboration with the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, a United Nations
(UN) agency in charge of promoting media freedom.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Press Freedom Day in 1993,
as an annual commemoration by member states in recognition of the
fundamental and critical role which a free press plays in a democratic
society. The theme for this year is aimed at encouraging the media
to provide a platform for dialogue and mutual understanding amongst
different cultures, religions and creeds.
Timba reiterated the fact that journalists should be allowed to
do their work without fear of arrest and should hold leaders accountable
for their actions but at the same time be professional in conducting
their duties.
He also revealed that the Parliament's Committee on Standing Rules
and Orders has already started the process of setting up the Zimbabwe
Media Commission (ZMC) which will be tasked with media regulation,
registration of mass media and accreditation of journalists. He
added that the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) will soon
invite applications for national commercial radio licenses, national
commercial television licenses and community radio stations licenses.
The Deputy Minister also commented on the forthcoming all
stakeholders media conference to be held in Kariba between 6
and 9 May 2009 and urged journalists to be tolerant and give the
presenters a chance to air their views even if they don't subscribe
to those views saying this is the hallmark of Freedom of Expression.
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