In pursuit of this goal, The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists said it would be engaging the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to map out ways of keeping journalists safe.
ZUJ Secretary General, Foster Dongozi, said the move was in line with the union’s commitment to protect media practitioners, especially during critical periods like elections.
“We are working on several mechanisms that we can put in place to ensure the safety and security of journalists ahead of the elections,” said Dongozi.
Dongozi revealed that ZUJ, in collaboration with other African media organisations, was in the process of lobbying African governments to adopt mechanisms on safety and protection of journalists in both conflict and non-conflict zones.
ZUJ is signatory to a draft resolution crafted this month by African journalists on the safety of journalists. The resolution implores African states to uphold the UNESCO Resolution 29 on “Condemnation of Violence Against Journalists” adopted on 12 November 1997.
Media Institute of Southern Africa (Zimbabwe Chapter) Advocacy Officer, Thabani Moyo, said the major threat facing journalists ahead of elections was stringent laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Public Order and Security Act which he said criminalised the practice of journalism in Zimbabwe.
“A new constitution will create enabling legislation that protects journalists in the practice of their duties. SADC must keep to its word that Zimbabwe should go to elections under a new constitution because without a new constitution, laws like AIPPA will continue to be used against journalists,” said Moyo.
He expressed fear that elections under the Lancaster House constitution would see more journalists being harassed and arrested.
Media activist, Rashweat Mukundu, expressed fear that state security agents and political activists still maintained a hostile attitude towards journalists. He bemoaned the fact that no mechanisms had been put in place to guard against this.
“There is generally a negative attitude towards the media that results in security agents and political activists harassing journalists. We are likely to see more of this as we go towards elections. Journalists remain exposed,” said Mukundu.
In the run up to the June 2008 run-off election, a truck containing 60,000 copies of The Zimbabwean was burnt by unknown assailants in Masvingo while the driver and his assistant were assaulted.
A Committee to Protect Journalists report said that during the March 2008 elections, state agents used stringent media laws to jail at least 16 journalists and media support workers while 23 more were harassed or obstructed from gathering information.
Author and award winning feature and travel writer, Geoff Hill, described the March and June 2008 periods as “the worst time for journalists in Zimbabwe’s history”.
Post published in: News