Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
Every 3rd of May each year, the World Press Freedom Day is observed internationally. On this day the world celebrates the importance of journalism and recognizes the integral role, a vibrant independent media, plays in democratic societies.
But, despite its importance, press freedom has remained elusive and is always under threat in many countries with journalists facing harassment, intimidation, jail time and even violence while carrying out their duties.
Last year, Bulawayo in particular, when the country was on the last stretch towards the 2023 harmonized elections, several freelance journalists were physically manhandled by men who were clad in the ruling party regalia.
One of them a female journalist who writes for Voice of America, together with other male journalists were beaten up by a group of rogue elements who boasted that ‘no matter where they would report, nothing will be done to them’.
The assault was captured on camera with the identity of the perpetrators visible for all to see.
And true to their word, up to date nothing has been done. The docket is still pending.
This assault was expressed in Bulawayo last year, in one of the workshops that was conducted by the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), the government body that regulates the registration of Media Houses and journalists.
Harassment of journalists does not occur in physical form per ser. There are several ways in which journalism in Zimbabwe lacks its free space. Many journalists who stream for the private media are often left out on government and Presidential diaries. The reason for this exclusion is that, stories by these journos are demmed anti-government.
Lately, private media journalists have been denied the chance to pose questions to the Head of State. The refusal stems from the fact that the national broadcaster journalists will pose stage-managed questions whereas private media players tend to be direct and pose real life questions.
After the just ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), this publication carried a video story on how impossible it is for journalists to carry out their duties which involve Heads of State or ministers.
State Security Agents are merciless and have a total disregard to journalists. Security personnel, in carrying out their duties, forget that journalists will be carrying out their too.
There are authorities in some countries who have waged a war against journalists worldwide. Countries such as Turkey, China and DR Congo.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) placed Turkey at 149 out of 180 countries is not a free country for press freedom. According to a census conducted by Expression Interrupted Platform, Turkey had 32 journalists behind bars.
In Zimbabwe, the Constitution promotes freedom of the media and expression, but this is hampered by interference and the implementation of restrictive media laws.
Laws such as the Patriotic Bill, which was adopted by government in June 2023, criminalises any “attack on sovereignty and national interest” which threatens the work of journalists.
Veteran and award winning journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono, is an example of state harassment for exposing corruption and other shenanigans by the government and its officials.
As of January this year, a census from the Expression Interrupted Platform, revealed that currently 32 journalists are in prison in Turkey, mainly comprising Kurdish journalists and those who worked for media outlets affiliated with the Gülen movement
China has 44 behind bars, Myanmar (43), and Belarus (28) holds more than a third (35.8%) of those incarcerated on the day of the census.
China has long ranked as one of the world’s worst jailers of journalists.
Although in recent times no journalist has been incarcerated in Zimbabwe, many journalists have been called to Police stations to answer as to why their stories are against the government of the day.
Effie Ncube a political analyst had this to say on the law repressive to freedom of press in the country.
“The provisions of the Constitution set out in section 61 are yet to be fully realised. Contrary to sections 61 and 86 of the Constitution, freedom of the media is still curtailed in ways that are not fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society based on openness, justice, human dignity, equality and freedom.
“Reporters are often harassed or denied access to news sources. This in turn denies Zimbabweans an opportunity to hear and see stories from multiple angles.”
Ncube went on to say that not enough private players have been licenced to operate nationwide free-to-air television stations. As a result, the television space is still unfairly dominated by the public broadcaster, robbing people of alternative sources of news, entertainment and educational material.
Ncube said propaganda is still very much flourishing in the country as state controlled media dominates with staged managed stories to fit certain agendas.
“The other challenge we have is the general lack of balanced and accurate stories in the newsmedia. Propaganda is flourishing. Stories are manipulated or spiced up to give a political slant and flavour. News are heavily opinionated, a situation where newsrooms dish out their opinions on stories, instead of reporting as it is. Again this denies people their right to access accurate news.”
The recently introduced Zimbabwe currency, the Zimbabwe Go, ZiG, has received mixed reactions from industry players as well as the general public. While the private media has given a near accurate analysis and reports, the state media and broadcaster have given a one sided picture of what the public has said about the ZiG.
The two stables, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, radios and Television, as well as the Zimpapers Newspapers have all but reported that every jack and jill has accepted the ZiG.
But reality on the ground spells differently.
Commuter omnibus operators are not accepting the new currency stating that there no petrol service station that is accepting the currency. Every spare parts shops import these spares using the US dollar as such the new currency will not be accepted in these shops.
“My friend, they can change as many currencies, they can even say we are using gold to buy, but as long as the gold does not buy fuel, we will not accept it.” One driver expressed himself.
“Aaaah!!! No, no, no, instead we will take the gold and sell it in the US and then buy fuel.”
All the above is not reported by the State media, and when the private media players write about this, they are termed anti-government.
A long-awaited law on freedom of information has been gazetted and the ZMC has promised to do workshops on it. It is hoped that there could be the light for journalists soon.
In the meantime in Bulawayo, the World Press Freedom day passed like any other with nothing to show of it. Many journalists were gathered at a CITE organized workshop to commemorate the day.
Zim GBC News©2024