In his concluding remarks in Geneva, Switzerland, on the occasion of the adoption of Zimbabwe’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report by the working group of the Human Rights Council (HRC), Chinamasa defended the two laws saying they were here to stay.
“Madam President, there was too much reference to POSA and AIPPA, especially from the Western Group. These two pieces of legislation are not inventions by Zimbabwe and they are there to stay. These pieces do not violate any fundamental freedoms as long as their letter and spirit is followed,” he said.
MISA-Zimbabwe position
MISA-Zimbabwe notes that the Minister’s assertions contradict the Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity George Charamba who in July this year said AIPPA would only be amended after the completion of the ongoing constitution-making process.
Charamba told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Communication Technology the government had put AIPPA amendments on the back burner ostensibly because government must first complete the drafting of a new Constitution.
MISA-Zimbabwe reiterates its unequivocal demands for the inclusion of constitutional provisions that explicitly guarantee media freedom and the citizens’ right to access to information in the envisaged new constitution.
The two constitutional provisions in question will effectively deal severe blows to laws such as AIPPA which impinge on media freedom and citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information .
Post published in: News