Government sources said senior ZANU-PF members had made it clear that
they were against the conference, that seeks to redress the media
landscape, in the first place.
On Tuesday, the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) comprising the
Zimbabwe Union of Jounalists, Media Institute of Southern
Africa-Zimbabwe Chapter and the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
released a joint statement making its intentions known that they will
boycott the event that has gobbled thousands of US dollars in
administration, logistics, food, transport and accommodation.
" The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe advises members of the Zimbabwean
public, the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity, and Members
of Parliament of its decision not to attend the Zimbabwe All
Stakeholders Media Conference scheduled for this week from the 6th to
the 9th of May 2008 in Kariba," read part of the statement.
" This decision was made following the re-arrest and detention of human
rights defenders, in particular Zimbabwe Peace Project director Ms.
Jestina Mukoko and freelance journalist Mr. Andrisson Manyere on
charges that can only be considered political. It is MAZ’s view that
their re-detention represents an apparent abuse of the judicial process
which undermines the spirit and letter of the Global Political
Agreement, especially as regards the restoration of a political
environment that is democratic and respectful of the rule of law, as
well as cognisant of the urgency of ensuring the security and freedom
of human rights defenders and citizens in general.
It is in this context, MAZ said it considered it impossible to
participate at the conference when human rights defenders and
journalists , who are presumed innocent until proven guilty, continue
to be targets of government repression.
"MAZ remains committed to engaging the government to ensure that
genuine media law and policy reforms are made in a politically
conducive environment, and according to the letter and spirit of the
GPA," the statement said.
Meanwhile, Harare journalists yesterday marched in the city to
commemorate World Press Freedom Day before handing over a petition
demanding media reforms to the Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo.