The alliance members prefer to have a voluntary media council in which journalists like other professionals will regulate their professional activities.
ZMC is made up of commissioners seconded by the three political parties in the Government of National Unity, GNU.
Under the amended Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act by the three main political parties, the ZMC is supposed to lead the formation of the Zimbabwe Media Council, which will be implemented under provisions of the restrictive, AIPPA.
The ZMC sent letters to media stack holders late on Friday inviting them to a Tuesday meeting at their offices: To discuss the process and any other issues related to the setting up of the Media Council. The Media Council, according to the Act, (AIPPA) is supposed to come up with a Code of Conduct for the media and exercising statutory roles over the same, wrote an official who signed off as Chinamhora AB.
The media organisations did not attend the meeting on Tuesday and instead sent a signed letter expressing their disquiet.
The alliance has already established the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe, VMCZ with a secretariat and a board, complete with a Code of Conduct.
The MAZ letter signed by the leadership says: The statutory nature of the Media Council envisaged under AIPPA, completely undermines the position of (promoting a free and professional media environment )through voluntary self regulation. In addition, the Council will be obliged to operate under the excessively restrictive and punitive provisions of the law in the course of its duties of regulating media activity.
Members of the alliance cannot in anyway support the operation of this council in its present form. It is with regret that the undersigned members of MAZ will be able to accept your invitation.
The alliance instead encouraged the ZMC to campaign for the repeal of AIPPA in its entirety as agreed in the May 2009 all stake holders conference convened by the government in Kariba.
The Commission has since called for a press conference on Wednesday to launch the process leading to the setting up of the Media Council as a requirement of AIPPA.
Post published in: News