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Vibrant independent media essential for new Zimbabwe
Sandra Nyaira, Zimbabwe Journalists
September 15, 2008

http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=4742&cat=1

Writing last month as power-sharing talks seemed to have stalled, opposition leader, now Zimbabwe's second Prime Minister since independence from Britain in 1980, Morgan Tsvangirai said:

"In the immediate days ahead, we have a historic opportunity to choose between hope and hatred, cooperation or conflict, prosperity or poverty, the will of the people or selfish interests. In short, we seek a new Zimbabwe that will provide jobs, dignity and healing to our people."

Now today, the deal has been signed and sealed in-front of other African leaders, all of whom have been hoping for some form of peaceful compromise to end the Zimbabwean crisis that has seen thousands lose their lives through lack of medication, food, clean water and related ills.

Zimbabwe has chosen hope, cooperation, prosperity and for all this, including the much-needed jobs to materialize, we need an independent media that will provide a platform for all Zimbabweans to talk, share experiences and anxieties as we all seek reconciliation and economic prosperity.

As the secretary of exiled and other Zimbabwean journalists living abroad, most of them in the United Kingdom, I welcome the signing of the power-sharing agreement by President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy, Arthur Mutambara.

Our immediate concern as Zimbabweans first is of course the humanitarian crisis that has seen the suffering of our people in their masses due to the massive shortages of food caused by the ruling Zanu PF government's unplanned land reform programme and successive droughts that have affected the southern African region. It is essential that this be the government's number one priority as it seeks to stabilize our country and bring it back into the family of nations.

With Tsvangirai becoming the Prime Minister, we expect as Zimbabwean journalists that he will lead the drive for a truly independent media in Zimbabwe.

Having worked for the banned Daily News newspaper, which was instrumental in "telling it like is" and giving the other side of the story that the Zimbabwean government was uncomfortable with, I would be elated if the popular daily newspaper would be allowed to register so it can be back on the streets with many more players being allowed to help rebuild the vibrant independent Press we once had in Zimbabwe.

Past gains in the development of an independent Press were fast eroded when Zanu PF's power base was threatened beginning 2000 with the rejection of the draft Constitution. We saw the bombing of newspaper printing presses and offices, the arresting of journalists, intimidation, harassment and other such things to wear scribes down as they sought to do their jobs.

Many Zimbabwean journalists today live outside the country and a number have started successful web-based newspapers like New Zimbabwe, The Zimbabwe Times, The Zimbabwean, zimbabwejournalists.com, zimonline.com and many others.

I have no doubt that most of these journalists running these newspapers stand ready to go back to Zimbabwe or to transplant their projects and launch them as newspapers if a conducive environment is put in place. So I call on Prime Minister Tsvangirai to work with his progressive colleagues both in Zanu PF and the MDC to repeal draconian media laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Broadcasting Services Act and introduce laws that will allow for the development, flourishing and protection of a vibrant independent media in the country.

The deal signed by the three leaders, largely speaks of the broadcast sector and the need to include new independent players. Urging foreign government said to be hosting and funding radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe on a daily basis, in their agreement the three leaders call on broadcasters in exile to go back home and apply for licences to start running independent broadcasting entities.

Radio stations such as SW Radioafrica, Studio 7 and Voice of the People have been broadcasting into Zimbabwe for years now. They played a critical role, because of their wider reach, in educating Zimbabweans about things that were happening in their country.

While we feel that while it is important for Zimbabwe's airwaves to be opened to new independent players, the leaders totally ignore the newspaper sector in their agreement. I sincerely hope that the same efforts being put into ensuring that we have independent broadcasters in Zimbabwe are also put into place as we seek to have more privately-owned newspapers in the country.

Many experienced editors and journalists were hounded out of the country and genuine reform be able to attract them back to help re-build their cherished profession. Newsrooms today lack depth because of the crisis we have endured in the past few years and many journalists look up to Tsvangirai today as he assumes the mettle.

As a Zimbabwean I hope the signing today of the power-sharing agreement will usher in a new era of tolerance and diversity of views underpinned by fundamental reforms that respect the right to freedom of expression and access to information by all citizens.

The agreement by the three leaders also calls on the national broadcaster, the ZBC, to stop fanning hatred, using hate language, adding measures will be taken by the all-inclusive government to make sure that is brought to an end.

The media play a critical role in creating the required platform for national dialogue that will input into the envisaged era of national healing, stability, harmony, reconciliation and economic development and for this new deal to work, I feel we need a media that is independent, that seeks to unite Zimbabweans more than divide and polarize them.
To accomplish this, we need to come together as Zimbabweans from different political persuasions, beliefs and backgrounds to make sure this is the first stepping stone towards a brighter and democratic Zimbabwe where the wishes of the people and not the leaders come first.

The nation is expecting to be delivered from the chaos, the long queues, the food shortages and be put right back onto the path towards the promised milk and honey that is yet to materialize 28 years on. It is not going to be easy but I feel with that platform where Zimbabweans can discuss freely, our country can easily get back on track.
I also hope the new government brings with it an immediate end to the arrest, harassment and torture of journalists that have been seen as "enemies" of the state. I also hope the blacklists that have stopped many from covering the Zimbabwean story will also now be a thing of the past.

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