Worldwide, journalists commemorate World Press Freedom Day on May 3.?? Journalists from Masvingo had applied to the police for permission to march from Croco Motors garage to the city civic centre. However, their application was turned down by police citing security reasons. In Bulawayo journalists were told by police that all public processions and demonstrations had been suspended until after the FIFA Soccer World Cup finals to be held in neighbouring South Africa next month.??
In a letter to Energy Bara, provincial chairman of the Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zimbabwe that was organising the march, a police Chief Superintendent Joseph Nyapfuri said the demonstration could not be held because of security reasons. However, it was suspected that the march had been banned because Vice President John Nkomo was having a rally in Mwenezi district here.?? This is a sad development which shows that media freedom in the country is yet to come. This was intended to be a peaceful professional march. How could they stop us from expressing our views? I am actually baffled, said Bara.??
The police said they are under instructions not to issue clearances for any public demonstrations and processions until the World Cup in South Africa is over, said Henry Masuku, the national coordinator of the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) that was helping organise the Bulawayo march.?? MISA-Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) were also helping organise the Bulawayo demonstration. Masuku said the journalists in Bulawayo could not commemorate the day on May 3 as the day was a working day and most journalists were engaged.??
Right now we are in a fix because of the ban. We had already paid for a public address system and printed T-shirts for this important occasion. The polices argument that they want to maintain peace and stability in the country ahead of the World Soccer Cup does not hold any water because this is a day celebrated everywhere in the world by journalists, said Masuku. ??
When reached for comment the Co- Minister of Home Affairs Giles Kembo Mohadi said: “I am attending a meeting.”??The other Co- Minister Giles Mutseyekwas mobile phone was nor reachable.
Post published in: News