Zimbabwe: New report on Public Broadcast Media
A new report entitled: Public Broadcast Services in Africa Series has urged the government of Zimbabwe to commit to media reforms. Citing the highly controversial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which established the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Commission, a body that has immense power to make or break all media in the country; the report, launched in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, urges the government to place top priority in ensuring that: ‘Laws inhibiting the free operations of the media are repealed without delay.’
‘Opportunity for media law reforms has come’- new report on Public Broadcast Media
A new report entitled: Public Broadcast Services in Africa Series has urged the government of Zimbabwe to commit to media reforms. Citing the highly controversial Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which established the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Commission, a body that has immense power to make or break all media in the country; the report, launched in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, urges the government to place top priority in ensuring that: ‘Laws inhibiting the free operations of the media are repealed without delay.’
Evidence shows that since the introduction of AIPPA, in 2002, the Zimbabwe media has witnessed major setbacks, whereby freedom of expression was severely restricted. Authorities closed down three major private papers on the same day, and harassed, intimidated, tortured, abducted and jailed journalists for merely exercising their duties; thus causing the biggest obstruction to freedom of press since the days of the Rhodesian Front under Ian Smith.
“The laws that are currently in place in Zimbabwe are completely at odds with aspirations of any development oriented and democratic state. In fact it is to the contrary, whereby freedoms are systematically curtailed creating an atmosphere of domination and unchallenged power”, said Ozias Tungwarara, AfriMAP director.
The report urges the government of national unity under the leadership of President Mugabe and Prime Minster Tsvangirai to ensure that new media laws abide by the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, as well as other international treaties guaranteeing freedom of expression, which Zimbabwe are a party to. These laws also include the country’s own constitution which also guarantees the right to freedom of expression.
The report, published by Open Society Institute and the Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP), is part of a continental study which assesses public broadcast media in 11 African countries. Zimbabwe is the first of such countries to launch its report. The country report has made 44 key recommendations in the media laws and operations of the public broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), divided into 10 critical sections: media laws; access to public information; voluntary media council of Zimbabwe; the broadcasting landscape, digitalization; broadcast legislation; ZBC legislation; funding; programming; campaigns for broadcast reforms.
The report warns that democracy in Zimbabwe will be severely stifled if laws of media regulation are not urgently addressed. It points the way toward evidence of political commitment by enjoining the leaders at state level, as well as in the parliament to take advantage of the constitutional review process and throw out AIPPA, Zimbabwe Media Commission, Public Order and the Security Act (POSA). It also calls for the strengthening of the Voluntary Media Council, which is supposed to represent all media. These reforms, the report states, will demonstrate Zimbabwe’s commitment to embracing a democratic and development agenda, something that the South African Development Community (SADC) and the world anticipate with great expectation and hope.
Background:
The Public Broadcast Services in Africa Series is an 11 country survey (Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) that seeks to collect, collate and write up information on regulation, ownership, access and performance as well as prospects of reform of public broadcasting. The research that started in 2008 is based on a detailed guide developed by African media experts and others from other regions of the world. The thirteen chapter report also include data from an audience survey of representative samples (about 15,000) of viewers and listeners to assess their use of media in general and opinions on broadcasting in particular. The premise that broadcast media is key to reaching people, led to a conclusion in which AfriMAP sought in-depth analysis of public broadcasting and in the process, made contributions to the democratization of Africa. Zimbabwe is the first country to launch its report.
The Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project - (AfriMAP), the Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project, is an initiative of the Soros foundation network’s four African foundations, and works with national civil society organizations to conduct systematic audits of government performance in three areas: the justice sector and the rule of law; political participation and democracy; and effective delivery of public services.
The Open Society Institute-(OSI), part of the Soros foundation network, works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. OSI places a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa - (MISA), is a non-governmental organization with members in 11 of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries. MISA seeks ways in which to promote the free flow of information and co-operation between media workers, as a principal means of nurturing democracy and human rights in Africa. The role of MISA is primarily one of a coordinator, facilitator and communicator, and for this reason MISA works with all like-minded organizations and individuals to achieve a genuinely free and pluralistic media in southern Africa.
For more information please contact:
Jeggan Grey Johnson – Mobile+ 27 836 200578- email: [email][email protected]
Tabani Moyo –Mobile +263 912 266 430/ +263 11 603 439- email: [email][email protected]