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Banned BBC and CNN welcome back to Zimbabwe, says Mugabe's Spokesperson
MISA-Zimbabwe
May 19, 2009

Zimbabwe has told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Cable News Network (CNN) that their journalists are welcome in the country, George Charamba, President Mugabe's spokesperson and Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary has said.

The BBC was banned from Zimbabwe in July 2001, five months after the organisation's Harare correspondent Joseph Winter had been expelled.

In comments carried by the state-run Sunday Mail newspaper on 17 May 2009, Charamba said CNN was never banned from the southern African country which is coming out of a decade-long economic and political crisis.

Charamba said: "We would want to remind CNN that they are not banned from this country. Nothing was given either orally or in writing, stating that they had been banned. It is just that they took a solidarity boycott with the BBC after we had said the latter was representing political interests.

"We have taken the decision that they must be engaged: Overtures have been made to both media organisations, and the BBC have said they'll be coming over while CNN's coverage would be from South Africa."

Zimbabwe's three-month old unity government has raised hopes for media freedom after President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai committed themselves to allow foreign journalists in the country as well as grant newspapers publishing licences.

A new media law is set to be passed before the end of the year, lifting restrictions on the operations of newspapers and journalists.

Charamba also announced a new initiative being spearheaded by the Ministry of Information, Media and Publicity to position information attaches in South Africa, Malaysia, China, Britain and the United States. The attaches would be responsible for devising programmes to market Zimbabwe as a tourist destination.

"The country needs to shed the negative image of the past," Charamba said. "The negative (image of the country) has been because of the political situation and this has been dealt with through the inclusive government. If we sort out our image mess back home, that will reflect outwardly."

He said Zimbabwe had "rediscovered itself". "We are working in unison. We are also piggybacking our image via our natural attractions, as this has been identified as critical for the quick turnaround of our economy."

Charamba took criticism from MPs last week who said state media coverage remained slanted in favour of President Mugabe's Zanu PF party.

In response, Charamba said: "We are aware that the times have changed. This (inclusive government) is a collaborative effort, comprising three political parties. Hence, the demand on the State media is that they reflect the ethos that is dominant.

"Interestingly, I am always accosted by the parties over how they are covered. For ZBC, the problem is we have limited cameras and the (main) news bulletin is an hour long. But certainly, we would need to consider whether there is scope for more bulletins.

"At the same time we have a broadcaster who wants to find their feet in the new environment; the poor editors are being buffeted by politicians who want their stories aired. And rightly so; if an event were held, one would certainly want it covered. We will keep on improving in order to balance the coverage."

Meanwhile Charamba claimed criminals were "finding convenient refuge in journalism" after he was tackled by MPs on the arrest of freelance photographer Andrew [Adrisson] Manyere and former TV news anchor Jestina Mukoko on banditry and terrorism charges.

Charamba said Mukoko left journalism for civic society endeavours, yet she was still being identified as a journalist. "Is it based on historical affiliation or current pursuits?" he queried.

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