Zimbabwe

(MISA/IFEX) – The “Herald” newspaper has reported that Capitol Radio, Zimbabwe’s first private radio station, has begun broadcasting, a week after the Supreme Court struck down the law giving the government a monopoly over the airwaves. According to the “Herald” source, the station began broadcasting on 29 September 2000. This was confirmed by Mike Auret, […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The “Financial Gazette” newspaper reports that the government is planning to formulate tough rules and regulations for aspiring broadcasters. The regulations are expected to be gazetted into law by President Robert Mugabe on 29 September 2000, under the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act. Under the regulations, only companies owned by Zimbabweans would be […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The minister of state for information and publicity, Jonathan Moyo, says the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) will continue to enjoy its broadcasting monopoly until the government establishes a regulatory framework giving conditions for new players. Moyo made the announcement on ZBC news in reaction to the recent High Court judgement in favour of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s (ZBC) monopoly over the airwaves has been nullified, paving the way for other players to enter the broadcasting scene. The Supreme Court ruled on 22 September 2000 that a private broadcaster, Capital Radio (Pty) Limited, could operate and provide a broadcasting service from within the country. In a two […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The government is to appoint an advisory panel to review the legal environment of broadcasting in Zimbabwe, taking into consideration the constitutional requirements and advances in media technology. The minister of state for information and publicity, Jonathan Moyo, said in Harare on 18 September 2000 that this will be the first step in […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The former chairperson of the Zimbabwe War Veterans Association, Chenjerai Hunzvi, has threatened “The Standard” journalist Chengetai Zvauya, warning him that he would face further harm and harassment if the reporter continued to write critically about him, reported the “Zimbabwe Independent” newspaper in its 1 September 2000 edition. Zvauya has previously been the […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Minister of State for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo said the government is not planning to liberalise the airwaves because the government had already done so soon after independence. He was responding to questions from journalists attending the MISA-Zimbabwe chapter Annual General Meeting on 26 August 2000. Moyo said that as a result […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The government has, through the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust (ZMMT), asked the entire eight-member Zimpapers board to resign with immediate effect. Those asked to step down are: Nelson Samkange (chairperson), Sarah Kachingwe (deputy chairperson), Macloud Chaora, Bornwell Chakaodza, Raymond Mutambirwa, Adonia Mahleka and Don Muvuti. The chairperson of the ZMMT, Honour Mkushi, said […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Minister of State for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo has denied that the government is considering leasing out part of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s (ZBC) services to foreign organisations as part of efforts to liberalise the airwaves. The minister was responding to press reports that the government was considering opening the airwaves to […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The government has said that it wants to put on record that it does not consider “The Daily News” editor-in-chief Geoff Nyarota, or any other editor in Zimbabwe to be its enemy. Minister of State for Information and Publicity Jonathan Moyo said this in response to a story published in “The Daily News” […]

(MISA/IFEX) – A plot hatched by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to kill the editor-in-chief of “The Daily News”, Geoffrey Nyarota, has been exposed by the hired assassin. The assassin, Bernard Masara, 35, told the “Daily News” that he developed cold feet and could not carry out the killing. Not only did he expose the […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: REPORT FROM ZIMBABWE: Parliamentary Elections Do Not Ameliorate Dangers for Independent Journalists July 18, 2000 — In a riveting account from Harare, just published on CPJ’s Web site , The Standard reporter Ray Choto writes about conditions for journalists in the wake of Zimbabwe’s historic parliamentary […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Friday 7 July 2000, war veterans in Mashonaland Central held a “Herald” reporter, George Soko, and photographer William Mafunga hostage for almost three hours at a farm in the town of Centenary. The two journalists had earlier visited two other farms and talked to war veterans without any problems. However, when they […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications has announced the introduction of fees for accreditation of journalists and film processing. The accreditation fees are Z$150 (US$4) for local journalists and US$100 for foreign journalists. The fee structure came into effect on 1 July 2000. Fees for processing documentaries will be US$500. Clearance for […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 18 June 2000, Sibusiso Ndlovu, a senior photographer with “The Chronicle”, the Bulawayo-based state-owned daily paper, was attacked by suspected war veterans and ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party supporters when he tried to take pictures of the group as they clashed with members of an opposition political party, ZAPU. […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 21 June 2000 letter to President Robert Mugabe, CPJ expressed its deep concern about the climate of intimidation in which journalists covering the upcoming parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe are being forced to work. In recent weeks, local and foreign correspondents have been subjected to harassment and even violence by politicians and […]