Weekly Focus

Zimbabwean media faces total onslaught from the government

As the date for presidential elections in Zimbabwe draws closer freedom of expression and freedom of press in particular seem to be government ‘s worst enemy. Journalists from Independent media and activists are labeled as terrorists and could be charged with treason a crime that carries punishment of life imprisonment or death sentence. The same fate is facing Zimbabwe’s opposition party. According to Reporters Sans Frontieres RSF, on November 23, 2001 the Zimbabwean government released a list of six foreign correspondents based in Zimbabwe and accused them of "assisting terrorists". A government spokesman said these journalists must know that "we agree with President Bush that anyone who in any way finances, harbors or defends terrorists is himself a terrorist. These reporters are not only distorting the facts but are assisting terrorists." Four British newspaper correspondents are on this list: Jan Raath, from The Times, Peta Thornycroft, from The Daily Telegraph, Andrew Meldrum, from The Guardian, and Basildon Peta, from The Independent. The two others on the list are Angus Shaw, from the American news agency Associated Press, and Dumisani Muleya, from the South-African newspaper Business Day. A human right activist is also on the list.

On 21 November, the government announced they planned to reintroduce a Public Order and Security Bill that will punish acts of terrorism with life imprisonment or the death penalty.

With presidential elections coming in less than six months the Zanu PF government is trying to suppress any voice that does not sing praises for them. While government is spending millions of Zimbabwean dollars turning its media into efficient propaganda machines, it has kept on harassing independent media to hamper their ability to circulate information.

RSF this year rated the Zimbabwean government one of the worst violators of media freedom. Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) also put Zimbabwe at the top of list for media freedom violators. According to MISA, there have been over 200 cases of violations only in 2001. The cases of violations include arrests and assaulting of journalists from the private press. Foreign journalists have been forced out of the country after the government passed laws that specifically aim to expel journalists. The printing press for the Daily News was reduced to ashes by a bomb.

The Ministry of Information and State Publicity has also drafted several bills that all aim to gag circulation of information in the country. The bills particularly around radio and television have kept airwaves frozen.

Members and leaders of the opposition have also suffered a similar fate. The leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Morgan Tsvangirai was charged under the Law Order and Maintenance Act which is a colonial law that has since been found unconstitutional. Tsvangirai was charged for the utterances he made about President Robert Mugabe.

While the Zimbabwean government is trying all it can to remain in power, its attempts to alienate the people’s right to express themselves is suicidal and as President Thabo Mbeki has correctly warned in a private meeting in Pretoria with board members of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). “What causes instability is the inability of people to express themselves freely – so they take up arms,” says Mbeki. Zanu PF being an organisation that fought against colonial repression knows better what it means to be denied the right to express oneself. Freedom of expression is regarded as one of the most important rights for the good of any society and correctly so.

If Zanu PF had allowed alternative view since 1980 when it came to power and took them into consideration when making decisions it would have managed to bring together many ideas on governance and service provision. It would also have managed to remain transparent and accountable. These are main characteristics of a good government and for that reason alone its dominance will not have been threatened.

It is unfortunate that the Zimbabwean government fails to understand even the history it made itself. The suppression of information and opposing voices by its predecessor, the regime that was led by Ian Smith did not stop Zanu PF from coming into power. Instead it only made them come to power from a stronger position.

History has several examples. The total onslaught on freedom of expression by the apartheid regime in South Africa did not save it from collapse.

The Diary

Violations: (Report from Khaya FM) Earlier this week the South African Minister of Justice Panuell Maduna attacked journalists who investigate criminal activities and refuse to give evidence in court. Maduna said journalists who refuse to give evidence are sickening.

Maduna’s statement is obviously unfortunate and show lack of appreciation for the work done by the media. Maduna should understand the job of journalists first before he can make such kind of statements in public. Journalists are supposed to improve circulation of information in the society not to hamper it.

To do this, journalists depend on people, whose lives, dignity, families and friends could be in danger when journalists expose them. This will obviously have implication for journalists’ ability to continue obtaining information.

If journalists are starting to testify in court, or give information to police they compromise their integrity as information seekers and distributors of information. This will kill their profession.

More importantly though is the fact that journalists are an extension of the police force. The government spends billions of rands of tax payers’ money on the police, and with the kind of resources provided by state the police must do their job.

Maduna’s department has been at loggerhead with the media and media activists over the subpoenaing of journalists to give evidence or verify the material they publish or broadcast, the worst case being that of the Cape Town photographer Bennie Gool who was subpoenaed to testify in the murder trial of Rashaad Staggies the leader of the Hard Living Gang. Gool refused to testify and the state withdrew the subpoena. For Maduna to bring up the subject again in that fashion bring into question the state’s commitment to allow the free flow of information.

Media Diversity: (Report from the Star) Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) which was approved by cabinet last week would initially focus on developing community radio stations and newsletters. This is according to Devan Pillay the director of policy in the Government Communications and Information Services (GCIS).

The MDDA has actually started on a right footing, to focus on community media. With the injection of new energies in community media, debates may also be spread to community that has been left in the cold by main stream media.

Community media is a platform for people to express themselves and a source of information about their immediate surroundings. The MDDA’s decision to focus on community media will actually enhance freedom of expression and access to information.

For further information contact:

Scotch Tagwireyi

Information and Communications Officer, Freedom of Expression Institute: Phone 27 11 403 8304, Cell 27 72 357 2699, Fax 27 11 4038309.