We just want freedom

13 February 2004

As a journalist, any kind of oppression of the media saddens me profoundly. My heart is heavy as I read, hear and watch the media oppressions in Zimbabwe. I ask myself, is too much to ask if we can only work in a conducive environment in our quest to provide information?

Freedom of the press has been lacking for a long time now in Zimbabwe.

I see Zimbabwe coming up in history as one of the countries in Southern Africa to impose such oppressive and draconian media laws. What a way to get a memorable place in history!!

After a long legal battle, the Government of Zimbabwe has finally managed to close the Daily News. In a high court ruling on 6th February 2004, the daily News, Zimbabwe's biggest newspaper was said to be operating illegally.

The papers spokesperson, Brian Mutsau, was quoted saying, "We will see how things turn out," as the journalists at the paper are planning to reapply for accreditation under the current ruling.

The daily news was denied accreditation by the Nations media and information commission, this is after they had published a series of articles purporting the rigging of the 2002 presidential and parliamentary elections.

This ruling by the high court has been a final flip of the page in as far as oppression of the media in Zimbabwe is concerned. It has put journalists under the direct control of the government.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa has condemned the act as a serious threat to freedom of expression. MISA says since its enactment in 2002, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) has been selectively applied against the privately owned media, whose journalists have been constantly arrested, detained and harassed for criticising the government.

The 2003 State of the media Report published by MISA Zimbabwe chapter has no good word for the conditions in which the media operate. The report bemoans the plunge that the country took in as far as freedom of expression is concerned.

"Since 2000, when Zimbabwe took a plunge both economically and politically, freedom of expression has become a victim as the government intensifies efforts to control and influence the flow of information." The report reads in part.

Under the circumstances the media in Zimbabwe have found themselves in a difficult situation were journalists cannot visit certain areas and have also become victims of the political violence, threats and intimidation from political players, security agents and government officials.

Media freedom has been identified far and wide as a yardstick for measuring democratic principles in a country. The media provides checks and balances for the government of the day thereby making the powers that be responsible for their actions.

In Africa and other developing countries, there has been widespread oppression of the media. As providers of information, we need the freedom to do our job in a conducive environment. The situation in Zimbabwe is cause for concern and must be condemned at all levels.

As a journalist, am saying, why can't journalists in Zimbabwe be let to provide information freely to the masses to enable the people make informed choices. What is the hassle in doing this? And when they try to find out why, they are squeezed in a tight corner, they can hardly breathe. A corner in which the powers that be tell them what they can or cannot publish and whether they are fit to practice their profession, depending on which media organisation they work for.

Again I say to myself, this is sick, it is pathetic and it must be fought all the way. We must rally behind our counterparts in Zimbabwe and champion the work of institutions such as the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). The night can only be so long, soon we shall see the daylight. Viva press freedom!