The daily newspapers in Zimbabwe were put under state control in 1982
and the Zanu (PF) ruling party holds a monopoly on radio and television
broadcasting. The handful of independent weeklies that still exist are
stifled by high production costs as well as exorbitant customs duties
on the import of newspapers that have been printed outside of the
country.
Right now, a freelance journalist, Shadreck Manyere, and former veteran
reporter Jestina Mukoko remain in police custody after being abducted
from their homes in December. They allege that they have been tortured
by police. You stated in December that you would refuse to participate
in a coalition government until these individuals and more than 30
others were released.
In January, a steep hike in accreditation fees for foreign and local
journalists working for foreign media outlets further curtailed
independent reporting in Zimbabwe. CPJ recorded 16 cases of journalists
and media workers facing harassment or arrest by the state last year
for lacking accreditation under the Access to Information and Personal
Privacy Act
(AIPPA). These illegal arrests were carried out by the
government-controlled Media and Information Commission in direct
contravention of a January 2008 amendment to the AIPPA law signed by
President Robert Mugabe.
The current media environment remains hostile to the independent press
and will ensure partisan press coverage of any future developments made
under the auspices of the new power-sharing alliance. CPJ calls on the
new unity government to move swiftly to free the media from control by
the ruling party.
The Government of National Unity should take immediate steps to:
•   Release Shadreck Manyere and Jestina Mukoko immediately.
•   Abolish laws that require licensing of newspapers and journalists.
•   Allow the banned Daily News to recommence operations. The paper was bombed
twice and eventually shuttered in 2003 for alleged violations of the AIPPA
law.
•   End jamming of foreign radio stations, including the BBC, VOA, and
the exiled stations Short-Wave Radio Africa, which broadcasts from
London, and Voice of Peace, in Capetown.
•   Permit all local and foreign journalists who have been deported, banned, or
forced into exile for security concerns to return safely and without harassment.
•   Repeal special taxes that apply to foreign newspapers and periodicals.
•   Encourage the set-up of community radio stations which are allowed
to operate under current laws but none have yet been granted permission
to broadcast CPJ believes that freedom of expression is an essential
part of a democratic economically thriving state.
We urge you to make press freedom a priority for the new Government of National Unity.
Jestina Mukoko et al.
EDITOR – What about Jestina and the others? I understood that the
release (or formal charging) of all detainees was an absolute
requirement for the "unity" agreement.
The challenge
EDITOR – The past week has marked a significant shift in the direction
in which our country is going. It has been a disorderly process but a
beginning all the same. I am a sceptic and I believe that it is time
for a different approach to the problems in Zimbabwe. I am, however,
prepared to give this fledgling government a chance.
What people in Zimbabwe need to understand is that the MDC (in all its
forms) is a political party and not a liberation movement. It is driven
by the philosophy that change will come to Zimbabwe through peaceful
means. We, therefore, need to take this into consideration when we
criticise them for agreeing to go into the unity government without any
major changes in the Zanu (PF) murderous mentality. The options open to
a political party hoping to oust a dictatorship through peaceful means
are limited. The only option was to go into government and then try to
change things from within. This was a reasonable decision considering
that almost 12 months after people elected Morgan Tsvangirai President
of Zimbabwe the people were still suffering. It is well and good for
armchair critics to sit in judgement and condemn the MDC as traitors.
Many of these critics say the MDC should have held out for more. Would
the people of Zimbabwe have had the patience to wait with them? I do
not think so.
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Now that the MDC has agreed to go into government it must not allow
Zanu (PF) to dictate the agenda. It is becoming increasingly evident
that Mugabe and his henchmen are planning on distracting the MDC from
the programme of change and economic recovery by putting spanners into
the works. Keeping the detainees in prison and the arrest of Roy
Bennett can be a distraction from the real agenda. I am not at all
suggesting that this is not a serious matter but that there is need to
look at these problems in the bigger scheme of things. Zanu (PF) wants
MDC to walk out of the unity government because they know that any
successes will be credited to the MDC.
Whatever the challenges the MDC should not allow Zanu (PF) to force it
to walk away from the deal. They should stick it out to show the world,
SADC and AU that Mugabe is a criminal. The MDC and Zimbabweans should
deny Mugabe the joy of seeing the people’s project fail.
My advice to the MDC is to hang in there and keep the focus on the
agenda for change and economic recovery. Let us play the game until
things start improving then those in the rank and file of the police
and the military will be willing to work with the government.
Dead wood
EDITOR – Robert Mugabe is un-reformed; the worst Zanu (PF) Cabinet has
been retained to resist change. There is no paradigm shift in Mugabe's
leadership, why is he so afraid to hand power to his cronies? Dr Sydney
Sekeramai, Joseph Made, Patrick Chinamasa, Emmerson Munangagwa,
Ignatius-Zhuwawo Chombo – all on targeted sanctions.
Zimbabweans should brace themselves for another wasted year. The new
crop of MDC Ministers is going to be handed over all the hidden
corruption, looting and murder. Politicians are politicians, what is
the difference between Ian Smith and Robert Mugabe?
SADC leaders by African standards have no standards of democracy. It is
all dog eat dog as SADC rewards those rejected by the electorate and
does not respect the wishes of the people.
Mugabe and all those who were rejected by the electorate are imposed
leaders and remain illegitimate. They represent SADC and AU, not we who
voted them out of Government.
The turnaround strategy is very clear – fire the CEO and his/her top
team for business to recover. The MDC's main objective should be that
of the development and production of a people driven Constitution
within six months and Presidential Elections in twelve months.
Hanging themselves
EDITOR – One big advantage about dealing with uneducated and uninformed
personnel like these JOC members is that they quickly tie a noose
around their own necks. Oh what a foolish move, but which is a blessing
in disguise for MDC & GNU! It was going to be very difficult to
single this JOC group members, now that they have initiated this
blinder, it is up to GNU, SADC, AU & UN to make sure these rogue
elements are dealt with decisively and emphatically. Whoever minister
or Zanu (PF) member who is behind this whole thing is now in trouble.
What a stupid move.
The time of purging these notorious, uneducated, murderous personnel is
now or never. Now the ministers of Home Affairs (Giles and Kembo)
should respond; they should tell the country and whole world who
arrested Roy Bennett. Ministers of Security and Justice should
cooperate towards bringing these rogue elements to book. Here there is
no escape or else the GNU is dead on week one. The PM should summon
these ministers and they should explain what happened and what is
happening.
Sad development
EDITOR – In response to developments that the Zimbabwe Military
Intelligence Directorate (MID) are behind Bennett's abduction I think
that it's a sad development that shows that Mugabe, despite all the
bravado, is not completely in charge of both Zanu (PF) and the army.
This is the last thing we need at the moment.
Zimbabweans can now see how Zanu (PF) has led us to a very insecure
position in its attempt to keep power. If Bob had not relied on his
generals to instil fear and win elections they would be respecting
national consensus now.
This is a mini-coup and who knows what to expect next? Bob cannot
vindicate himself from this ugly event because he encouraged the
soldiers to disregard professional ethics when it suited his ends. This
is a national embarrassment as well as an indictment on Bob, Zanu (PF)
and the Army. Now the SADC should intervene because they and Bob wanted
this hybrid thing to exist more than any Zimbo. The generals cannot be
allowed to hold the nation at ransom, not now not ever! –