(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Zimbabwe, faced with criticism nationally and abroad, plans to introduce stringent measures to regulate the operations of private sector media organisations in Zimbabwe. This was announced on 4 February 1999 by Minister of Information Chen Chimutengwende, at the end of a workshop in Kariba. The purpose of the workshop was […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Zimbabwe, faced with criticism
nationally and abroad, plans to introduce stringent measures to regulate
the operations of private sector media organisations in Zimbabwe. This
was announced on 4 February 1999 by Minister of Information Chen
Chimutengwende, at the end of a workshop in Kariba. The purpose of the
workshop was to review the ministry’s operational strategies.
The proposed measures to regulate the media include the restriction of
the media sector to local investors, disallowing donors to pour funds
into private media, and the introduction of a legal framework within
which they should operate. The minister said that the existing
environment was “too relaxed and had allowed the penetration of media
organisations with a political agenda to destroy the government and the
country…we want to stop dubious foreign donations to some media
organisations, which come in the name of democracy….”
In a related matter, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has viciously
attacked the independent press in a state-of-the-nation address.
Describing them as unpatriotic, a visibly angry Mugabe hit out at the
independent media on 6 February in an extraordinary address broadcast on
the state television and all four state radio stations. He said, “…the
likes of Clive Wilson [managing editor of the ‘Standard’] and Clive
Murphy [managing editor of the ‘Standard’s sister paper, the
‘Independent’] complemented by the Aurets [Mike Auret, Director of the
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace] and Coltarts [David Coltart,
lawyer and human rights activist based in Bulawayo] of our society, are
bent on ruining the national unity and loyalty of our
people and their institutions…let them be warned therefore that unless
their insidious acts of sabotage immediately cease, my government will
be compelled to take very stern measures against them and those they
have elected to be their puppets.”
The President also broke his silence over the arrest of the “Standard”
editor Mark Chavunduka and reporter Ray Choto. He said that the
newspaper knew very well that the story was untrue and that their
“heinous objective was to plant an idea of a coup thereby causing
disaffection in the army and to instill alarm and despondency in the
peace-loving people of Zimbabwe.” The President seemed to exonerate the
military of their actions, i.e. illegal arrest and torture. He said:
“…propelled by their unquestionable loyalty and commitment to the
defence and security of the state, they went to the source of the
falsehood and arrested those who had manufactured it.”
The President went on to say that any media which did not publish the
truth, must not “cry foul” when faced with extraordinary “visits”.
Meanwhile, also on 6 February, the Vice-President of Zimbabwe, Simon
Muzenda, also lashed out at the private media. Speaking at a social
function, he accused some independent media organisations of fostering
political agendas aimed at destroying the government of Zimbabwe.
Background Information
The government of Zimbabwe has been facing increasing criticism
following the arrest and torture of Chavunduka and Choto in January, and
the further arrest of Wilson. Last week, three Supreme Court judges, in
a five-page letter to Mugabe, ordered him to comment publicly on alleged
abuses by state security agents in the country. The judges asked Mugabe
to declare his administration’s position on six points, one of which was
a declaration confirming that the government accepted the rule of law as
a necessary element of a democratic Zimbabwe. They also demanded that
Mugabe reaffirm that the armed forces had no power under the Defence Act
to arrest or detain
persons other than soldiers. They also called on the government to
respect the judiciary, saying if it was ignored, then anarchy would
prevail.
Chavunduka was arrested illegally by the military, who then ignored two
court orders demanding his release. Choto was initially arrested by the
police, but then handed over to the military.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
to freedom of expression, association and assembly
and a respect for press and media freedom
made by the two journalists and for those responsible to be brought to
book
violation of the right to freedom of expression as contained in Article
19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, of which
Zimbabwe is a signatory
Appeals To
His Excellency President Robert Mugabe
Office of the President
Causeway, Harare
Zimbabwe
Fax: +263 4 708 557Mr Moven Mahachi
Zimbabwe Minister of Defence
Fax: +263 4 796 762
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
