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MDC condemns and demands immediate release of The Standard scribes
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
June 30, 2011

The MDC condemns and calls for the immediate release of two journalists from The Standard, the editor Mr Nevanji Madanhire and reporter, Ms Patience Nyangove, who were arrested by the police yesterday.

We condemn the arrests as they come at a time when reports suggests that some Zanu PF hawks would want to target and silence independent journalists for exposing the sunset party.

Yesterday's arrests are not only unfortunate but entirely wrong and unnecessary as they put the country in awful position when the inclusive government is supposed to be pushing for improved media reforms.

More worrying is that the arrests are targeted only at independent scribes while those from the state media have an open permit to do as they wish by going on a campaign of writing entire falsehoods against elected officials who are not from Zanu PF.

The selective application and abuse of the existing legal instruments to target independent journalists shows a deliberate attempt to muzzle debate and sell a particular viewpoint which favours Zanu PF. Any other opinions, analysis and news reports that are deemed to be out of kindness to Zanu PF suddenly become matters of interest to the police.

The MDC's position is that freedom for all media practitioners should be guaranteed. Zanu PF supported by its rogue elements in state security should know that; "the pen is mightier than the sword".

The MDC believes that the free flow of public information, giving citizens the right to know and be heard, is a hallmark of a functioning democracy.

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