MISA stages free our airwaves concert in Highfields (Harare)The musical concert which was attended by over 500 people was held under the theme freedom of expression+ access to information=people empowerment. The concert was aimed at raising awareness on the importance of freedom of expression and the need to have more players in media especially in the broadcasting sector.
The concert attracted artists from all spheres across the artistic devide such poetry, song, dance and theatre. The artists who took part in the concert include: Black material, Exploxion, Nesto, Sebede, Extra Large, Mabwe and Shoes, King Shaddy, Magesh and Transit Crew.
ADZ Trust national coordinator, Felix Machiridza, called on the inclusive government to open the airwaves and allow community radio stations to operate so as to allow diverging and converging views to gain access in the media.
Machiridza emphasised the need to have an alternative voice in the media and he highlighted that Zimbabweans are tired of being exposed to what he referred to as the one and only media choice which is the ZBC.
MISA Zimbabwe advocacy chairperson for Harare, Kumbirai Mafunda and Conrad Mwanawashe, local freelance journalists also reiterated the importance of having multiple players in the media sector and lambasted the continued existence of media restriction which they largely attributed to harsh media laws like the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) and the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
Two poets from the ZPHR popularly known as Shoes and Mabwe in their poem titled maoperation nemacommision condemned the issue of having several commissions in place like the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) as these tend to be domineering and repressive. The ZMC is set to become the media regulating authority and will assume duties in accrediting journalists after its set- up.
Post published in: News