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Threats on newspaper vendors
Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
November 02, 2011

The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) condemns in the strongest terms reports that political party activists are allegedly confronting newspaper vendors and threatening them with assault if they continue selling two daily private newspapers, namely Newsday and the Daily News. The VMCZ can only view these threats as a serious affront to the constitutionally enshrined right of the people of Zimbabwe to receive and impart information without undue interference.

VMCZ appeals to society in general and to political parties, and their youths, to refrain from verbally or physically threatening or attacking journalists, media professionals, workers and newspaper vendors, simply because they differ with a story or an opinion carried by any newspaper, radio or television station. Where members of political parties or ordinary members of the public, have a complaint against a newspaper, radio or television station story, they are free to contact our Media Complaints Committee, to raise complaints on any story they are not happy with.

VMCZ also urges the Zimbabwe Republic Police to act swiftly to prevent such threats on newspaper vendors and bring the perpetrators to justice.

VMCZ also challenges the government to take all the necessary steps towards the creation of an environment that promotes and fosters freedom of expression and freedom of choice in accessing diverse views and opinions from alternative sources of information.

Visit the VMCZ fact sheet

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