Journalists Launch Media Rights Body

Muleya who is also an assistant editor with the privately owned Zimbabwe Independent, said his organisation would among other objectives, lobby the government to create an enabling environment for the free practice of journalism. He said the launch of ZJHR came on the backdrop of the restrictive media environment that has seen scores of journalists harassed, arrested or tortured, notwithstanding the closure of publications such as The Daily News. Legal assistance would also be offered to journalists who fall foul of the countrys repressive media laws.

We will also initiate pro-active and high level publicity on violations of human rights in Zimbabwe as well as network with other human rights organisations for the betterment of journalists interests, said Muleya.

Chairperson Pedzisai Ruhanya stressed that ZJHR was not there to compete but complement the excellent work being undertaken by media organisations such as MISA-Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, Federation of African Media Women in Zimbabwe (FAMWZ) and Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe and would network with them to advance the rights of journalists. Ruhanya said the organisation would be guided by regional and international instruments that protect and promote human rights, freedom of expression and media freedom such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and Zimbabwes constitutional provisions in that regard.

ZJHR would also lobby the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union to adhere to regional and international instruments that promote media freedom and the right to the enjoyment of freedom of expression.