Zimbabwe

(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwe’s Minister of State for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo wants the European Union (EU) to urge the British and Netherlands governments to stop sponsoring short wave radio stations that broadcast in Zimbabwe. On Friday 11 January 2002, Moyo was talking to “The Sunday Mail” about the current deliberations between the EU and […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Thursday 10 January 2002, the Zimbabwean Parliament passed the Public Order and Security Bill, which contains repressive provisions on the operations of the media. The bill was passed after a vote was taken, pitting the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release, followed by the organisation’s Briefing Note on Freedom of Expression and Current Legislative Developments in Zimbabwe: ARTICLE 19 condemns recent Zimbabwean legislative developments ARTICLE 19 calls on the Zimbabwean Parliament to reject the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill, currently being considered, […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwean Army General Vitalis Zvinavashe has warned the independent media and foreign correspondents of dire consequences if they continue to report negatively about the Zimbabwean government, human rights abuses and the security forces’ actions. Addressing a press conference attended by Zimbabwe’s top military, police and intelligence brass, Zvinavashe said the independent media and […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwe’s Minister of State for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo has banned a CNN news bulletin from being aired by the national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). The twenty-minute programme was aired daily. In response to a question from the opposition member of parliament in parliament on Wednesday 20 December 2001, Moyo […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an 8 January 2002 IFJ media release: 8 January 2002 IFJ Calls For Europe to Lead International Action as Press Freedom Faces “Moment of Truth” in Zimbabwe The International Federation of Journalists today called for the European Union to lead international community action to “condemn, isolate and put into political […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Youths from the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party have destroyed hundreds of copies of the independent “The Daily News” in the town of Masvingo during a demonstration against alleged misinformation by the paper. On 27 December 2001, the youths, numbering over 100, took to the streets in Masvingo […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe told church leaders that journalists who write what he termed “libelous reports” would be arrested. Mugabe said this in a meeting with Zimbabwe’s church leaders at his offices on 16 December 2001. The church leaders asked Mugabe to uphold press freedom, especially the right to balanced reporting. However, Mugabe […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 7 January 2002 CPJ press release: ZIMBABWE: CPJ condemns pending media bill New York, January 7, 2002-The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns legislation before Zimbabwe’s Parliament that would create a rigid system to register and regulate media companies and the journalists who work for them. Parliament is expected […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 13 December 2001 CPJ press release: ZIMBABWE: Foreign Correspondents Association created New York, December 13, 2001-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) applauds the creation on December 7 of the Zimbabwe Foreign Correspondents Association (ZFCA), which has vowed to challenge a restrictive new press law in court. The draconian Access […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Friday 30 November 2001, Cyrus Nhara, a photojournalist with Artvak Productions, was attacked by a mob demonstrating in support of land reform. The incident occurred outside the Munhumutapa Building, which houses the president’s offices. The same mob also attacked the offices of “The Daily News”, breaking windows and destroying hundreds of copies […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Zimbabwe has approved the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill, which seeks to regulate the operations of the media in Zimbabwe and purportedly give access to information held by public bodies. According to “The Herald” newspaper, the proposed bill will protect personal privacy and establish a media information […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Wednesday 28 November 2001, “The Daily News” reporter Mduduzi Mathuthu was picked up by the police. He was questioned in connection with an August article in which he reported that people walked out on Vice President Msika as he made a speech at a public gathering to commemorate heroes of Zimbabwe’s liberation […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 28 November 2001 CPJ press release: ZIMBABWE: New security bill may restrict independent press, state paper reports New York, November 28, 2001-In a November 21 article, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported that the Zimbabwean government had drafted a Public Order and Security Bill intended to replace the harsh Law […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: World Journalists Condemn “hysteria and hatred” of Zimbabwe Attack on Foreign Correspondents The International Federation of Journalists has accused the Government of Robert Mugabe of a “hysterical and hateful campaign” against press freedom after Zimbabwe accused a number of correspondents in the country of aiding terrorists. […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The government of Zimbabwe has approved the Public Order and Security Bill, which will replace the Law and Order Maintenance Act (LOMA). However, the new bill has draconian provisions that would curtail the operations of the media and the free flow of information. According to a 21 November 2001 report in “The Herald”, […]