The bombing of the Daily News in 2001 was a reminder to all in the industry that the same fate could befall them.
“Media houses practice self-censorship because of fear. Never mind the laws that constrict media space. We have witnessed arrests, general intimidation and, worse still, murder of journalists in the past 12 years or so. So when journalists look for stories they are held back because at the back of their minds there is always a reminder of what can befall them, thus some stories die a natural death,” he said.
Makumbe said fear among journalists encouraged institutional corruption. “Stories on corruption are not followed up on because journalists are afraid. They would disappear or their media houses would meet with unsavoury consequences,” he said.
Many local journalists confess to putting their safety ahead of the stories they write, especially those that relate to political heavyweights and security personnel and institutions. Where they feel they are under threat, they would rather not pursue the stories.
Even where they are guaranteed free legal representation through such organisations like Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, security details often disregard the lawyers and subject journalists to torture and arbitrary arrests.
Media watchdogs are concerned that the pervasive fear among journalists also compromises ethical standards as it forces them to gather news surreptitiously and in some cases drives them to publish unbalanced stories while, in other instances, they give false information.
Post published in: News