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World Press Freedom Day statement
MISA-Zimbabwe
May 03, 2012
This year's
World Press Freedom Day commemorations mark a significant milestone
for the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) as they coincide
with the organisation's 20th anniversary.
Of equal significance
is the fact that the commemorations come on the backdrop of last
year's 20th anniversary of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration from
which MISA, and inherently MISA-Zimbabwe, derives its brief and
mandate as a freedom of expression advocacy and lobby group.
These two historical milestones offer immense opportunity to SADC
governments and Zimbabwe in particular, to reflect and take stock
on how far the region has gone in fulfilling the obligations of
the Windhoek Declaration.
The Declaration
encourages member states to allow for the emergence of an environment
that fosters the establishment and maintenance of an independent,
pluralistic and free press, which is essential to the realisation
of democracy and economic growth.
Sadly for Zimbabwe,
the seven-year ban on The Daily News and The Daily News on Sunday
(prior to resumption of publication in 2011) and the holdup in liberating
the airwaves, spoke volumes about the government's commitment
to the Declaration and let alone, the African Charter on Broadcasting.
MISA-Zimbabwe
is nevertheless encouraged by the opening of the print media sector,
which saw the licensing of more than 30 publications. However, the
country's legislative framework remains a threat to the sustainability
of the very same publications.
We also witnessed
the licensing of two commercial national radio stations in November
2011. However, the controversy surrounding the licensing authority,
the licensing process and the licensees, engender doubts on whether
the development would enhance access to alternative view points
for the majority of Zimbabweans who rely on radio for information.
While there
has been a decline in the number of arrests and harassment of journalists
following the inauguration of the coalition government, there is
no guarantee that the situation will continue as long as the repressive
laws remain in place and could be used as and when those in office
are subjected to robust media scrutiny.
Our theme: Media
Freedom Now or Never - 20 Years in Defence of Media Freedom, was
deliberately coined mindful of the ongoing constitution making process
and the fact that Zimbabwe does not have constitutional provisions
that guarantee media freedom and citizens' right to access
to information.
It is against
this background that journalists and citizens continue to be harassed
and arrested under undemocratic legislation such as AIPPA
and the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act, among others.
For instance,
during the period between November 2011 to date, six cases of media
violations were reported. In four of the six cases journalists were
charged under Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Of the
four, three were specifically charged with criminal defamation.
The cases involved
charges against Standard journalists Nqaba Matshazi and editor Nevanji
Madanhire, The Daily News editor Stanley Gama and journalist Xolisani
Ncube.
Criminal defamation
has become the weapon of choice against media freedom and freedom
of expression. This is despite spirited calls by the African Commission
on Human and Peoples Rights' Special Rapporteur on Freedom
of Expression and Access to Information, Advocate Pansy Tlakula,
for the repeal of all criminal defamation laws and provisions which
are antithetical to a democratic media space.
In celebrating
our 20-years in defence of freedom of expression and media freedom,
we hereby reiterate and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals, principles
and visions of MISA as espoused in terms of the Windhoek Declaration,
African Charter on Broadcasting and the Banjul Declaration on the
Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa.
On its part
the government should fully comply with these instruments and as
a matter of urgency:
- license
more independent players in the broadcasting field and transform
ZBC into a true public service broadcaster
- institute
fundamental media law reforms and comply with the African Commission's
recommendations to amend some provisions of AIPPA
- present
before parliament the much talked about Freedom of Information
Bill
- ensure that
there are explicit constitutional provisions that guarantee the
right to freedom of information and press freedom
Visit
the MISA-Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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