Zimbabwe

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 21 October 1998, ARTICLE 19 renewed a call for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and its board to be made independent of government, following reports that the Minister of Information has instructed the entire board, which he appointed last year, to resign by 15 November. **Updates IFEX alert of 16 October […]

(MISA/IFEX) – MISA is reporting that the Zimbabwean Minister of Information, Posts and Communications, Shen Shimutengwende, has instructed the entire board of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) to resign. The board, headed by Tafataona Mahosa, was appointed last year by the former Minister of Information for a three year term. In its 10 October 1998 […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The “Zimbabwe Independent”, a weekly independent newspaper, has lambasted President Robert Mugabe’s attack on the independent media. In its 17 July editorial, the paper dismissed Mugabe’s outburst and his threats to introduce legislation. The paper said the President’s threat to curb press freedom “should be seen more as a reflection of his anger […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 13 July 1998, President Robert Mugabe attacked the independent press for “not respecting the privacy of individuals.” He was speaking on the eve of the opening of the Fourth Session of the Fourth Parliament at State House. He said that the privately-owned press was “thriving on selling manufactured lies to the people […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 28 May 1998, various civil society organisations rejected the second draft of the Public Order and Security Bill. The bill, which was gazetted in April 1998, will seek to replace the notorious Law and Order (Maintenance) Act of 1960. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 20 February 1998 and 13 November 1997** While the […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The Zimbabwe government’s virtual monopoly of the mass media has allowed it to censor information about the growing popular opposition. “Media Monopoly and Popular Protest”, a report published today by ARTICLE 19, shows how the authorities deny freedom of expression by hiring and firing editorial staff and issuing directives to the newsrooms […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 12 March 1998, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) called for a workers’ boycott of “The Herald” to run every Thursday and Friday. The boycott has been called to protest against biased reporting and the use of a public institution as a government propaganda tool. The ZCTU has accused the paper […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Media workers and civil society representatives in Zimbabwe have called on the government to amend Zimbabwe’s draft communications bill in order to allow for an independent telecommunications and broadcasting regulator that is legally free from state, government or political party control. They would like to see the creation of a body which puts […]

(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) – The Zimbabwean government has withdrawn the Public Order and Security Bill, which sought to replace the controversial Law and Order (Maintenance) Act. According to the 19 February edition of the state-owned daily “The Herald”, the Bill, which received widespread opposition locally and internationally, was withdrawn by the Minister of Home Affairs, Dumiso Dabengwa. […]

The World Association of Newspapers has condemned the unlawful detention and alleged torture of journalists in Zimbabwe and has called on President Robert Mugabe to end the government’s crackdown on the independent press. **Updates IFEX alerts of 10 February, 9 February, 8 February, 3 February, 29 January, 27 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January, […]

(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 10 February, 9 February, 8 February, 3 February, 29 January, 27 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999** Paris, 11 February 1999 For immediate release WAN Condemns Zimbabwe Press Crackdown The World Association of […]

(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 10 February, 9 February, 8 February, 3 February, 29 January, 27 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999** Paris, 11 February 1999 For immediate release WAN Condemns Zimbabwe Press Crackdown The World Association of […]

(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 10 February, 9 February, 8 February, 3 February, 29 January, 27 January, 25 January, 22 January, 21 January, 18 January, 15 January and 13 January 1999** Paris, 11 February 1999 For immediate release WAN Condemns Zimbabwe Press Crackdown The World Association of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Part-time broadcaster for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) Gerry Jackson has been fired by ZBC for reporting on a disturbances that took place in Harare on 9 December 1997, reports the Media Institute of Zimbabwe chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe). Jackson received a letter terminating her contract with the ZBC on 13 December. ZBC Radio 3 […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 10 November 1997, freelance journalist Lewis Gaba was assaulted by angry ex-combatants of the armed wings of Zimbabwe’s liberation movements for asking what they called “provocative questions”. Gaba sustained a cut below his eye and his trousers were ripped open during the attack. The editor of “The Herald” newspaper, Tommy Sithole, was […]