Zimbabwe: Media rights group condemns government ‘criminalisation’ of journalism

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in Zimbabwe has condemned the government’s continued regulation of journalism in the country, 40 years after it gained independence. 

In a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day on Sunday, MISA-Zimbabwe Chair Golden Mauganidze said the country was still on the verge of criminalising journalism and continued to impose ‘archaic’ broadcasting regulations.

He called on the government to implement reforms for a freer press, as stipulated in the country’s constitution.

“MISA Zimbabwe therefore urges he government to live up to the letter and spirit of the Constitution through genuine and democratic media law and policy reforms and in line with regional and international instruments, it is state party to,” he said.

In 2019, MISA Zimbabwe recorded 27 violations against the rights of journalists and artists. 

During the country’s recent 21-day lockdown, implemented to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, MISA have recorded 15 instances of arrests, assaults and harassment against journalists.

The attacks resulted in the rights group successfully filing a High Court injunction against police or state interference with the work of journalists. 

MISA also recently filed another successful application to the High Court, compelling the ministries of health and information to improve citizens’ access to information about the coronavirus pandemic. 

However, the rights group lamented that such drastic actions had to be taken in order to assure what it sees as the basic constitutional rights of journalists.

“Having to resort to court applications to enforce constitutionally guaranteed rights, therefore speaks volumes about the government's sincerity in entrenching the pillars of democracy and commitment to uphold the rights to media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information as provided for by Sections 61 and 62 of the Constitution, let alone other rights in the Bill of Rights”, Mr Mauganidze said. 

In the global ranking of press freedom, Zimbabwe currently ranks 126th out of 180 countries, according to a new index compiled by Reporters Without Borders for this year’s World Press Freedom Day.

This contrasts starkly with several of Zimbabwe’s neighbours, including Namibia, South Africa and Botswana, which rank 23rd, 31st, and 39th respectively. 

Photo: MISA/Twitter