The Freedom of Expression Institute is shocked and disappointed over the passing of the Access to Information and Privacy Bill in Zimbabwe yesterday. The refusal by the Parliament Legal Committee on Monday to table the Bill in parliament had brought hope that finally sense has prevailed among some Zanu PF officials. However, the change of minds by the committee members after a party meeting is a complete set back for the Zimbabwean media and the Southern Africa region as a whole. The Bill is a serious threat to media in Zimbabwe and journalists in the region and the rest of the world. According to the Bill foreign journalists will now be accredited if they want to report from Zimbabwe. This will enable government to decide which journalist to accredit or not to. This will also enable government to exclude critical foreign journalists and force foreign news agencies to depend on Zimbabwean journalists who are already working under terrible conditions.

The same fate will also fall upon foreign media houses. Foreigners will no longer be allowed to own media companies in Zimbabwe. This will leave most of the media in the hand of the Zimbabwe government. Government media have completely denied opposing view to be air since Zanu PF came to power in 1980.

Zimbabwean journalists will also have to register and get certified by the Ministry of Information and State Publicity, meaning that many journalists without tertiary qualifications or those that the minister finds unfit to practice will be forced out of the profession.

It is unfortunate that the Zimbabwean government would like to limit the platform of expression to only those who are educated and trained or that the Minister likes.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Salim Vally (Chairperson), Kate Skinner (Deputy Chairperson), Raymond Louw, Tshepo Rantho, Prishani Naidoo, Nkopane Maphiri, Daniel Hutchison, Nicolas Dieltiens, Ahmed Veriava. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jane Duncan INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Scotch Tagwireyi EDUCATION AND TRAINING CO-ORDINATOR: Mamashoabathe Noko OFFICE MANAGER Isabelle Walters OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR: Pinky Magau.

For more information please contact: Scotch Tagwireyi Information and Communications Officer Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) Tel: +27 11 403 8403 Fax: +27 11 403 8309 Cell: 27 82 8210756