Media conference campaigns for freedom of expression; looks at bill on broadcasting

(MISA/IFEX) – Media workers in Zimbabwe have called on the government to ensure that the proposed Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), to be established under Zimbabwe’s new Telecommunications Bill, is legally and actually free from state, government or party political control. They would like to see the creation of a body which puts public interest first […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Media workers in Zimbabwe have called on the government to
ensure that the proposed Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), to be
established under Zimbabwe’s new Telecommunications Bill, is legally and
actually free from state, government or party political control. They would
like to see the creation of a body which puts public interest first and
which supports the emergence and consolidation of public, community and
commercial broadcasting. Concluding a two-day workshop on the liberalization
of the Zimbabwean air waves , they called for a broadcasting regulatory body
which would be accountable only to the Zimbabwean people through parliament.
According to one resolution released at the end of the workshop, “the public
interest should underlie all aspects of communication policy, regulation and
operations.”

**For background see IFEX press release dated 24 February 1997**

The workshop is the second in a series organized by the Zimbabwe chapter of
the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the first of which was held
last year. Among other issues, this second workshop focused on the proposed
Telecommunications Bill and the creation of the IBA, an organization
designed to regulate and license telecommunications systems and postal
services and to issue broadcasting licenses.

Several aspects of the Bill were concentrated on in detail. Chief among
these is that its 95th clause gives the President powers, in the interest of
public security and law and order, to allow a licensee to intercept any
postal or communications transmitted by means of a telecommunication
service. Such power would have wide implications on issues of privacy and
censorship. Also discussed was the fact that the proposed law allows the
president to suspend any telecommunication services established or
maintained by the telecommunications licensee. It was pointed out that the
new Bill invests the Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications
with a lot of power, since he will be responsible, in consultation with the
President, for appointing IBA board members (clause 6) and will be in
charge of hiring and suspending IBA staff. (clauses 8, 10, 11, and 12).

Media workers are worried that if this law is passed as is it will derail
attempts to free the airwaves and create an independent communications
authority appointed to regulate broadcasting and telecommunications
activities in the public interest. According to them, “in a democratic
society… diversity of opinion should be related to the principle of
independence. Recognition of this principle is implicit in the establishment
of a Communications Authority as a body to regulate broadcasting or
telecommunications independently of state or commercial interests.” A
counter proposal has been drafted with the help of Professor Ncube of the
University of Zimbabwe Law Faculty. This proposal, which underlines the
principles of public interest and independence, will be submitted by
MISA-Zimbabwe to the government in the near future.

MISA notes that the Telecommunications Bill was first proposed in 1997 and
is due to be debated in the Zimbabwe Parliament in March 1998. There is
still time for the public and interested parties to input their views before
the Bill becomes law.

Recommended Action

Rt. Hon. Chen Chimutengwende

Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications

8th Floor

Linquenda House

Box CY 1276, Causeway

Harare, Zimbabwe

Tel: +263 4 706891/3 or 706891

Fax: +263 4 720982

Rt. Hon. Speaker C. Ndebele

Parliament of Zimbabwe

Nelson Mandela Avenue

P.O. Box CY 298

Causeway

Harare, Zimbabwe

Tel: +263 4 708 921 / 729 722

Fax: +263 4 795 548
Rt. Hon. Minister Witness Mangwenda

Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs

5th Floor

Corner House

Samara Machel Avenue

Harare, Zimbabwe

Tel: +263 4 774 620 -7

Fax: +263 4 772 993