CIVIL society groups concerned with Zimbabwe’s shrinking media space have urged President Robert Mugabe’s government to establish an independent commission to investigate the continued harassment of journalists in the country.
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
In a statement yesterday, Human Rights Watch, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum and the Media Centre said at least 23 violations of media freedom had been recorded in 2016 alone.
“During 2016, police throughout Zimbabwe arbitrarily detained 23 journalists. The journalists were detained without charge. There have been no known investigations or arrests in these cases which not only infringe on the rights to be free from mistreatment and arbitrary arrest but also undermine media freedom in the country,” the three NGOs said.
Media Centre director Ernest Mudzengi said police also continue to hold onto “active dockets” relating to cases in which journalists were arrested charged but have never been taken to trial.
“It is a form of harassment and serves to keep the journalists on a leash,” Mudzengi said.
The three groups cited numerous examples of journalists harassed by State agents in the last few months including the incident when a police team from Harare Central Police Station in July arrested NewsDay journalists Obey Manayiti, Shepherd Tozvireva and Abigail Matsikidze along with their driver Raphel Phiri “for allegedly filming and taking photographs as the police harassed people in Harare”.
“The journalists filed a complaint that identified police officers involved but the police did not investigate,” said Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum’s Blessing Gorejena.
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“On March 3 police also arrested NewsDay editor Wisdom Mdzungairi and senior reporter Richard Chidza and charged them with insulting or undermining the President following the story on Mugabe’s health.
“Zimbabwe should immediately halt police harassment of journalists and uphold media freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution. The government must immediately establish an independent mechanism to investigate and remedy abuses by police”.
The civic group said Zimbabwe is a State party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which guarantee the right to freedom of expression.
“The right to freedom of expression, encompassing freedom of speech and the Press, is constitutionally protected in Zimbabwe. But Zimbabwe has several laws in place that limit Zimbabweans’ rights to freedom of expression.
“The government should amend or repeal laws that infringe on the right to freedom of expression and media freedom,” the statement added.
Human Rights Watch senior researcher for Southern Africa Dewa Mavhinga said the emergence of the Internet should be used to enhance democracy and freedom of expression as well as the media rather than muzzle the space.
“Instead of media repression and muzzling cyberspace, the new Cyber Security ministry should facilitate the enjoyment of free expression, right to access information and other freedoms,” Mavhinga said.
Mugabe recently appointed former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa to keep watch on the use of social media and the internet in general.
