(MISA/IFEX) – The Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications has completed working on an information and mass media policy framework that seeks to regulate the operations of the media in Zimbabwe. Permanent Secretary, Willard Chiwewe, announced that the policy framework would be tabled before Cabinet soon, whereafter it would be taken to a stakeholders convention […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications has
completed working on an information and mass media policy framework that
seeks to
regulate the operations of the media in Zimbabwe.
Permanent Secretary, Willard Chiwewe, announced that the policy framework
would be tabled before Cabinet soon, whereafter it would be taken to a
stakeholders convention in the form of a draft bill for their input.
Research for the media policy framework, which had been mooted in government
circles since early this year, concentrated on the media and public
interest; media ownership; professional and ethical issues in journalism;
the media and the law; guarantees of Press freedom; access to information;
and the setting up of a statutory media council. The
government reportedly used case studies from the USA, Germany, Britain,
Canada, Namibia, India, Italy and Japan.
Chiwewe denied that the proposed law would curtail press freedom in
Zimbabwe. The policy framework proposes, among others, an Information Act to
regulate the media and compel government to provide information to the
public. Chiwewe told reporters that when approved, the law would most likely
repeal the Official Secrets Act. Quoted in the “Daily News”, Chiwewe said,
“We therefore recommend that an Information Act be in place because free
access to information is a prerequisite to democracy but there would be
other sections of information that would be classified, especially regarding
intelligence, foreign policy, strategic military strengths and it would be
supported by legislation to make it an offence to publish them.”
On press freedom, Chiwewe said he believed that media freedom was very
important and that he had appealed to the Constitutional Commission to
ensure that there was a clear statement guaranteeing this. However, he added
that although press freedom was important, it was essential that certain
information on national governance be kept confidential in order for
government to function properly.
The media policy framework would also look at the question of ownership of
the media in Zimbabwe. Chiwewe said that foreigners should not be allowed to
be the majority in any editorial board and should hold only a minimum number
of shares. The media document proposes that foreign ownership of the media
be between 20 and 25 percent.
On the formation of a media council, the document proposes the introduction
of a statutory media council where all stakeholders are represented.
The Ministry of Information has informed MISA-Zimbabwe that the document
will be released to the public after Cabinet had discussed it. This should
be before the end of the month.
