BY TAPFUMANEI MUCHABAIWA THE Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa Zimbabwe) has called on government and other law enforcement agents to publicly condemn the harassment of journalists.
In a letter to Justice and Legal Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi dated February 15, Misa Zimbabwe chairperson Golden Maunganidze said journalists still suffer persecution and harassment in their line of work.
Maunganidze cited the arrest of a journalist in Harare in January while covering a protest by teachers.
“The government, including the police and other State security agents, should unequivocally condemn media freedom violations to ensure the safety and security of journalists by bringing the culprits to book to protect media freedom and ultimately citizens’ right to free expression and access to information,” Maunganidze said.
Maunganidze said laws such as the Censorship and Entertainment Controls Act, Official Secrets Act and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act should be amended and aligned to the Constitution.
“Government must move with speed in finalising the law reform process as well as the establishment of co-regulation of the media. We believe the above interventions will go a long way in promoting media freedom and freedom of expression and more so towards implementation of the recommendations proffered to Zimbabwe under the Universal Periodic Review process.”
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