Rudo Saungweme
As Journalists the world over, celebrate the World Press Freedom Day today, Zimbabwean media practitioners have indicated that they are happy with the relationship between the New Dispensation and the media.
Journalists have stated that the New Dispensation has made it possible for journalists to freely express their views and publish whatever they want.
In an interview today with the Harare Post, Midlands State University media lecturer, Dr Albert Chibuwe said that there had a significant reduction in the arrest of journalists since the advent of the New Dispensation. He said journalists were incarcerated in the old dispensation before AIPPA and POSA were repealed.
“I am not quite sure if there are any journalists who were put behind bars in this new dispensation. But what I know is that the two laws that are AIPPA and POSA did not augur well for press freedom. Many thanks to the New Dispensation for repealing these two laws. I think this is the reason why I have not come across any journalist who was jailed. During the Old Dispensation, many journalists were incarcerated under these two laws.
“Daily News was also shut down. But in this New Dispensation, the private media can publish whatever it likes without fear of being victimised,” Dr Chibuwe said.
A freelance journalist, Charity Maodza stated that as journalists, they were very happy with the status quo in the media fraternity. She said there were no journalists who had been arrested in this New Dispensation and some repressive laws were being repealed.
“The New Dispensation is repealing AIPPA to open up the media space. No journalists are being arrested for practising their profession. Foreign media houses are being cleared to work in the country unlike before," said Charity.
In Zimbabwe freedom of the media is guaranteed by section 61 and 62 of the constitution which protects the right to free expression to media freedom and access to information.
The repeal of AIPPA will give rise to three legal instruments — the Access to Information Bill, the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill and the Protection of Personal Information/Data Protection Bill.
These new Bills will facilitate and enhance access to information and facilitate the pluralisation of the media space.
