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MDC supports press freedom
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
April 30, 2009

The MDC believes press freedom is a cornerstone of a democratic society and we commiserate with Zimbabwe's media fraternity as it celebrates World Press Freedom Day this weekend.

This year's Press Freedom Day comes against a dark background of closed media space exemplified by a rich graveyard of six "banned" newspapers, an unconstituted Zimbabwe Media Commission, detentions and harassments of journalists and the continued peddling of hate speech in the public media despite the formation of an inclusive government.

The host of online newspapers, external radio and television stations that continue to bravely tell the true story of Zimbabwe from outside the country's borders bear sad testimony to the closed media space in our motherland. They represent a black market of an industry that continues to be shackled in a yester-year mode of unjustified media monopoly where the only two daily newspapers and the sole television station are controlled by some exclusive elements in the inclusive government.

The MDC believes in an open and free media. We hope that media freedom will be the hallmark of a new, people-driven Constitution which should end the life-span of repressive media laws such as the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act and the Official Secrets Act, among others. A free media which can poke into the dark crevices of those in authority is a cornerstone of a democratic society. Only a free press can assist a nation in exposing corruption and entrenching the democratic values of transparency and accountability.

As the media celebrates World Press Freedom day, the MDC recommits itself to its traditional values of respecting press freedom and the rights of journalists and media houses to operate without interference. We believe in a voluntary media council where the media regulate themselves while at the same time respecting the rights of others. We believe that government has no business running newspapers. We believe that granting radio and television licences to private and independent players as well as facilitating the flourishing of new newspapers will unleash the nation's potential as an investment destination.

We hope that the inclusive government will move with speed in opening up the airwaves and bringing more players in line with Article 19 of the Global Political Agreement signed by the three major political parties on 15 September 2008. Press freedom will be a major step in our journey towards a new Zimbabwe and a new beginning.

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