Zimbabwe: MINISTER WARNS media

MEDIA ALERT

1 JULY 2002

MINISTER WARNS "ERRANT" MEDIA HOUSES AND JOURNALISTS

Zimbabwe's Minister of Information and Publicity, Professor Jonathan Moyo
warned media houses and journalists who refuse to register that the wrath
of
the "law" would descend on them.

Moyo was quoted in the state controlled Sunday paper, The Sunday Mail of
23
June saying that all media houses have to be registered. He warned media
owners who violate this requirement that they risk either being
> de-registered or being denied registration.
>
> The Minister warned journalists from what he termed the "opposition
press,"
> who prefer not to register with the commission under the new regulations,
> that they may not be able to practice in the country.
>
> The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Registration,
> Accreditation and Levy) Regulations under the Media and Information
> Commission stipulates that all media houses have to be registered. Under
> this law, mass media houses are also required to employ accredited
> journalists only.
>
> "The fact is that Zimbabwe is a lawful country and the rule of law shall
> prevail. The big-mouths journalists will have to employ themselves if they
> are not accredited", he said.
>
> Journalists from mostly the privately owned media have vowed to disregard
> the accreditation laws.