|
Back to Index, Back to Special Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
Zimbabwe's Elections 2013 - Index of Articles
POTRAZ bans bulk SMS
MISA-Zimbabwe
July 26, 2013
The Postal and
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ) has reportedly
banned bulk text messages from international gateways until after
the
July 31 elections.
Bulk text messages
have become a popular medium of communicating messages to the populace
that are used largely by civic, social and business groups.
According to
the 26 July Newsday edition Media and Information project Kubatana.
net, confirmed
that Econet had told them that their regulator POTRAZ has issued
a directive blocking the delivery of bulk messages from international
gateways with effect from this week until after the July 31 polls.
Kubatana further described the move by POTRAZ as unconstitutional,
obstructive, repressive and hostile to their work.
There has been
no official statement or comment from POTRAZ.
MISA-
Position
MISA- Zimbabwe
expresses concern about this alleged arbitrary move by POTRAZ, which
it deems retrogressive in light of the provisions of the new constitution
in particular section 61(1) (a) which clearly states that every
person has the right to freedom of expression which includes ‘freedom
to seek, receive and communicate ideas and information’. This
move is also against the provisions of section 62 which provides
for the right to access information. MISA-Zimbabwe is further concerned
by the timing of this alleged ‘ban’ when the country
is going through this critical transition phase which in itself
needs diverse avenues for access to information and calls upon POTRAZ
to reconsider the move.
Visit
the MISA-Zimbabwe fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
