Zimbabwe: Print Media (continued)

The Minister of State for Information and Publicity presented the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill on 30 November 2001. Under the proposed legislation, a new regime of licensing journalists would severely curtail independent reporting and acts of terrorism would be made punishable with life imprisonment or the death penalty (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill 2001, 101). The bill makes it clear that all media professionals will have to be authorised by the Statutory Media Commission to be set up by the government, and will have to observe a code of conduct (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill 2001, 86).

Licences would be annually renewable, but revocable at any time. It would be deemed an offence to deliberately spread information aimed at discrediting a person on the basis of political affiliation, and to conceal, falsify or fabricate information presented under the guise of authentic reports (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill 2001, 89; Reporters Sans Frontieres 2002). Journalists will not be allowed to rewrite a story published by another mass media service - most likely the state media - unless the owner of the newspaper grants permission. Cabinet deliberations and information held by different government departments will be published only if voluntarily released and authorised by a supervisor from the public institution concerned.

Under the banner of privacy, the bill further limits the right to access information; that is the freedom to seek, receive and impart information. Similarly, information harmful to national security, or causing alarm and despondency will not be released without authorisation. In fact, requests for government comment or interviews already need approval by the Minister of Information upon their release.

Under the lead of Dr Eddison Zvobgo, head of the Parliamentary Legal Committee and once close ally to the President, the Access to Information and Right to Privacy Bill seemed to find no easy way through parliament and the opposition threatened to challenge its constitutional legitimacy. Following a week of intense pressure, including a vigil at parliament and a protest petition organised by Zimbabwean and foreign journalists, the government agreed to amend the controversial media law. The amended bill, however, recycled the old provisions and presented only minor alterations, the main being that foreign journalists would be eligible to work in the country.

Under the newly approved laws the reporter and secretary general of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, Basildon Peta was the first to be arrested on the charge of organising a demonstration without giving police officers prior notice, as required under the new Public Order and Security Act. Peta was released after his lawyer showed authorities a clause that exempts professional organisations from having to notify police.

Senior writer Ray Choto and Standard editor Mark Chavunduka were abducted and tortured by government agents before being turned over to the police. Mark Chavudunka was arrested on 12 January 1999 by the military police in Harare and allegedly detained incommunicado for having published an article on a coup plot in December 1998. Ray Choto was reportedly arrested on 19 January 1999 and sustained serious injuries as a result of torture during detention at the military police station. International human rights groups vocally condemned the illegal arrest of the two Zimbabwean journalists (Commission on Human Rights 2000).

Foreign media ownership has also been restricted and the few foreign correspondents find it increasingly difficult to work in the country. Three foreign journalists were deported in 2001 and several witnessed an unprecedented campaign during the June 2000 parliamentary elections featuring militant slogans against "CNN, BBC and SABC lies" (Winter 2002, World Press Review 2000). Recently, reporters from Guardian, the UK's Telegraph, The Economist and the South African Sunday Times have been questioned on the subject of fulfilment of visa entry requirements and accreditation has been in some cases withdrawn by the Information Department (Daily Mail & Guardian 2002).

The Minister of State, Jonathan Moyo, made no secret of his hostility towards foreign newspapers. On 9 January 2002 for instance, the Minister reiterated his attack against the British Guardian describing it as 'ignorant' and 'malicious' (O'Carroll 2002). On 23 January, Guardian correspondent Andrew Meldrum, who is also spokesman for the foreign correspondents association of journalists, reported of the 'bizarre rhetoric' with which he was branded as a 'terrorist' and 'threat to national security' (Meldrum 2002). It thus seems that under the new media policy framework, foreign press correspondents will be held under tight surveillance by the government.

References:

ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY BILL 2001.

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS 2000, Fifty-sixth session Item 11 (c) of the provisional agenda Civil and Political Rights including the Question of: Freedom of Expression Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Abid Hussain, submitted in accordance with Commission resolution 1999/36, E/CN.4/2000/63, 18 January.

DAILY MAIL & GUARDIAN 2002, "Zimbabwe cracks down on illegal journalists", 24 January.

MELDRUM, A 2002, "Zimbabwe Diary: Cracks appear in support for bill" IN BBC World News, 24 January.

O'CARROLL, L 2002, "Zimbabwe condemns 'malicious' press" IN Guardian, 11 January.

PUBLIC ORDER AND SECURITY BILL 2001.

REPORTERS SANS FRONTIERES 2002, "Press Release: RSF asks EU to take sanctions against Zimbabwean leaders", 9 January.

WINTER, J 2002, "The perils of reporting in Zimbabwe" IN BBC World News, 9 January.

WORLD PRESS REVIEW 2000, Country Profile: Zimbabwe.