THE recent police blitz on communication devices was tantamount to denying people their right to information at a critical period where the constitutional referendum and elections were set to take place, the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) has said.
Report by Phillip Chidavaenzi
The move, according to the Alliance’s statement issued on Friday, was in violation of Section 20 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.
“Owning and distributing radio receivers is not illegal and confiscating them is a gross violation of citizens’ rights to receive and impart ideas and information without interference as enshrined in Section 20 of the Constitution,” MAZ said.
The statement followed remarks by police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba that possession of such devices was illegal.
“We strongly believe that the intentions of such people are not holy, but meant to create and sow seeds of disharmony within the country, especially now that the country is about to embark on the referendum and harmonised elections,” she said.
She added that the practice was a violation of the laid-down procedures according to the Public Order and Security Act.
MAZ urged the police to reconsider their stance and allow the free flow of information at a critical time in the country’s history.
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“MAZ, therefore, urges the ZRP to reverse its arbitrary ban on radios and to stop confiscating these devices as this violates citizens’ constitutional rights to receive information and to make informed decisions on issues that affect their lives,” said the alliance whose membership includes the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, Media Monitoring Project, Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) and Zimbabwe National Editors’ Forum.
According to Misa, the devices could be transistor or portable radios being distributed to enhance citizens’ right to access to information, especially in remote areas that do not have access to mainstream media.
