Thursday, August 31, 2006

Mutambara Weekend Press Conference

The MDC President Professor Arthur G.O. Mutambara will address a press conference and two rallies at the following places
On Friday 1 September 2006:
Time: 1900 Hours
Venue: Bulawayo Press Club, Bulawayo
Date: Saturday 2 September 2006
Time: 1000-1700 Hours
Venue: Madlambuzi Bus Centre, Bulilima-Mat South
Date: Sunday 3 September 006
Time: 0900-1700 Hours
Venue: Rukweza Bus. Centre, Near Nyazura, Manicaland
Media Hangman Mahoso At It Again

Reporting By The Zimbawean
Zimbabwe's media hangman Tafataona Mahoso has drawn the ire of human rights lawyers over weekend claims that certain members of the Law Society of Zimbabwe are attempting to bring colonial rule back to Zimbabwe.In an article replete with his usual drivel and conspiracy theories that appeared in the last issue of the state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper, Mahoso, who is also the chairman of the government-appointed Media and Information Commission, asserts that the LSZ is little more than a puppet of Western organisations with an agenda to return Zimbabwe to the days of colonial rule. As part of his argument he derides the LSZ's statement condemning the 2005 parliamentary elections as being "prejudicial and prejudiced." Mahoso, who has presided over the closure of a record four newspapers in as many years, infers that the LSZ will be subject to government action if it continues to work in opposition to the policies of President Robert Mugabe's government.The International Bar Association's (IBA) Human Rights Institute said it was "deeply concerned" by the "virulent and unjust criticism" of the LSZ. Justice Richard Goldstone, Co-Chair IBA Human Rights Institute, and retired South African Constitutional Court Judge told The Zimbabwean: "The Law Society of Zimbabwe is a democratic and independent institution performing a very necessary role in a particularly difficult period in Zimbabwe's history," Justice Goldstone said. "The LSZ should be completely separate from the Executive, accountable to the law, and above all else to the nation's Constitution. "For a law society to face criticism from a government-appointed official for carrying out this essential role in this environment carries all the outcomes of a threat."Award winning human rights lawyer Arnold Tsunga, who is also the LSZ's executive director said he was shocked that a high-ranking appointee of the Zimbabwean government can have the temerity to defame a law society, which in essence is an independent organization created by Zimbabwean statute to regulate the legal profession."The legal profession has largely been standing in between the unbridled power of the state and the people of Zimbabwe and offering a safety net to human rights defenders facing persecution," Tsunga said. "It therefore comes as little surprise that the state is now angling itself for an attack on the independence and self regulation of the legal profession in Zimbabwe." Tsunga said he was concerned that the statement by Mahoso signalled an imminent legal threat to the existence and independence of the Law Society itself.Mark Ellis, IBA Executive Director said: "It is unacceptable that the Law Society of Zimbabwe should be subjected to vilification of this type. The criticisms levelled against LSZ, by Tafataona Mahoso, displays both a level of ignorance as regards the role of a law society, and a somewhat selective and limited understanding of matters of law."Zimbabwe Lawyers of Human Rights in a press statement said it was clear from Mahoso's article that he had a rudimentary understanding of the functions and relevance of the LSZ."The LSZ is an autonomous body," the statement said. "It is not an extension of the executive and owes no allegiance, unlike Mahoso in his regulation of the media, to the executive. A body like the LSZ should be a model for media practitioners and ZLHR has no doubt that given the choice on how to self-regulate in the media, people like Mahoso would be part of a tiny and insignificant minority."Mahoso has closed down independent radio stations, television channels, and four newspapers in Zimbabwe. He has openly rejected efforts by Zimbabwean journalists to self-regulate.
Opposition Parties and Groups Unite Against Mugabe

Opposition parties and civic groups agreed in Harare today, to join hands against the government in their quest for a New Zimbabwe.
The historic meeting was attended by MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai, representatives of ZANU-NDONGA, and the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara. Also present were civic organizations such as Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe ZINASU and the NCA among others.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Church Group Slams Operation Garikai
From ZimOnline
Almost nothing has been done to house about 700 000 people left homeless after the Zimbabwe government last year demolished shanty towns in a controversial urban clean-up campaign, the church-led Solidarity Peace Trust said in report released in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
For the detailed report go to www.solidaritypeacetrust.org
Herald Reporters Acquitted
Reporting by the Herald
SUNDAY Mail editor William Chikoto and the paper’s political editor Munyaradzi Huni, who were accused of defaming retired High Court judge Justice George Smith in an article published three years ago, were yesterday acquitted by a Harare magistrate.Harare magistrate Mr William Bhila ruled that the pair, together with their two alleged accomplices, Mr Munyaradzi Bhadiyi of Zimrights and the director of Shoreline Investments Private Limited, Mr Trevor Francis Batezat, be removed from further remand after the State failed to prosecute the matter.In the defence application for refusal of further remand, it was submitted that the four religiously attended routine remands for the past five months but the State could not provide them with a trial date within a reasonable time. At all material times, it was argued, the matter was postponed at the insistence of the State. Mr Bhila added that the State would proceed by way of summons if more evidence arises. The four were being charged with criminal defamation or alternatively contempt of court.The State, led by prosecutor Mr Chris Mutangadura, alleged that in December 2002, Justice Lawrence Kamocha presided over a case in which Shoreline Investments represented by Mr Batezat was the applicant and another company Permason Private Limited was the respondent at the High Court. According to the State outline, the nature of the application was that Shoreline wanted to be granted an order to restore its vehicle that had been impounded by the police in Beitbridge.Upon hearing the merits of the case from both parties, it was alleged, Justice Kamocha ruled in favour of Shoreline, which did not go down well with Permason.The State further alleged that Permason immediately appealed against the ruling seeking determination of the real ownership of the vehicle in question.It was also the State’s case that the matter was heard before a different judge, Justice Smith, who ruled that the vehicle had to be surrendered to the deputy sheriff for safekeeping pending determination of ownership
Government Vows To Go-Ahead With Interception To Communication Bill
The Government has vowed that it will go ahead with the Interception to Communication Bill.
If made into law the bill will allow authorities to monitor phone calls and the internet.
Opposition parties civil society groups told parliamentarians in Harare today, at a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee hearing on Transport and Communication, that the bill is unconstitutional.
But members of the CIO, the military and Media Information Council, boss Tafataoana Mahoso said, but government will press ahead to monitor calls and internet to protect the country from "insurgency."
Zimbabwean internet service providers say this might force them to close down if they have to install the monitoring equipment at their own cost.
For more listen to Studio 7 on www.voanews.com

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Al Jazeera International establishes landmark Zimbabwe bureau
Reporting by Zoe Smith (Mail and Guardian)

Al Jazeera International has become the only international broadcaster with a bureau in Harare, following the opening of its new office in the Zimbabwean capital.
The channel has appointed former BBC World Service journalist Farai Sevenzo as the Zimbabwe correspondent, and he will be accompanied by cameraman/producer Cyrus Nhara.
Al Jazeera International's director of news, Steve Clark, told Press Gazette: "It is possible to sneak into Zimbabwe, secretly film and sneak out again, and carry whatever you like with no reaction or comment from the government.
"I would much prefer to go into Zimbabwe, shoot whatever we like and then get the reaction from the government. It's something that nobody else is doing at the moment, and we are the only news network with a bureau there."
According to US-based pressure group Africa Action, no other country in southern Africa faces such intense government action against independent media as Zimbabwe.
In 2002, a law was passed requiring all journalists and media companies to register with the government-controlled Media and Information Commission, meaning that foreign journalists are regularly denied visas to file stories from Zimbabwe.
The BBC is currently banned in Zimbabwe, where the government has proscribed it as a "terrorist organisation".
Clark said that he assumed that the attraction for Robert Mugabe's government was that Al Jazeera International had no domestic agenda, whereas "rightly or wrongly" the BBC was seen as having one.
He said that he was extremely optimistic that Sevenzo and Nhara will be able to report whatever they want.
Clark said: "I told the government ministers that they should think very carefully before they let us in, because there would be times when they might not like what we report, and if they were to expel us, it would reflect worse on them than on us.
"They were very frank and open and said, 'No, no. Please come in.' We intend to go there and report objectively and honestly on any stories we do. We'll see what happens."
Local correspondents for foreign publications, particularly those whose have been critical of Robert Mugabe's government, have been refused accreditation or threatened with lawsuits and deportation.
Clark, who was educated in Zimbabwe, said the country was obviously a major target for Al Jazeera, because it was so difficult to get news out of there.
He added: "Africa is massively underreported. There is much more to the continent than AIDS, famine and war, Sevenzo: correspondent so there are lots of stories to be told."
(Please feel free to post your comments on this development)
Zimbabwean Standard Journalist Elected Regional President

Reporting by New Zimbabwe.Com
FOSTER Dongozi, the secretary general of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists has been elected to the powerful post of President of the Southern African Journalists Association (SAJA).
Dongozi was elected at a congress of journalists from Southern Africa which took place in Johannesburg,South Africa last week.
The congress was attended by leaders of unions and associations from the 12 SADC countries.
As President of SAJA, Dongozi will preside over the affairs of unions and associations of journalists in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambiaand Zimbabwe.
He will be deputised by Charles Matsebula, an investigative journalist with The Times of Swaziland while Isabel Chimangeni, a chief reporter with Times of Zambia is the new SAJA treasurer.
Mushitu Mukwame of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation and Albert Magkoba, the secretary general of the Media Workers Association of South Africa were elected as executive committee members.
SAJA is a region wide media workers and journalists association comprising member unions from 12 SADC countries. It seeks to foster collaborative work between regional trade unions based on common workplace concerns and the socio- economic and political conditions within which media workers and journalists operate.
SAJA also provides opportunities for the creation of one single voice for media workers and journalists in the region.
It also seeks to provide advanced professional mid-career training for electronic and print journalists while protecting them from harassment and intimidation.

Monday, August 28, 2006

The Zimbabwean media has been targeted as a tool that has been under tight control and heavy censorship. Journalists especially those from the privately-owned media have been arrested, villified and assaulted. One of the worst cases being the bombing, of the country’s only independent newspaper the ‘Daily News’ in 2000 and then its printing press the following year. Following this, the draconian Access to Information and Protection Law was introduced in 2002, makingit a crime to work as a journalist or to run a media outlet without a license from the government-controlled Media and Information Commission (MIC). Since its introduction in 2002, AIPPA has been used to harass dozens of journalists and to shutter newspapers like the Daily News.
That same year the Public Order and Security Act was enacted which criminalizes publishing false statements that are "prejudicial" to the state, or undermining the authority of or insulting the government.
In 2005 the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which introduces penalties of up to 20 years in prison and heavy fines for publishing or communicating "false" information deemed prejudicial to the state was mooted. This penalty is heavier than any contained in AIPPA or the Public Order and Security Act.
Several foreign correspondents and journalists have been barred from entering the country. Journalists and readers of the independent media have been attacked and detained, especially in ruling party strongholds.
Privately owned newspapers such as the Tribune were denied licences in 2004 and the Mirror stable was taken over by the Central Intelligence Organization in September 2005.
Journalists from the government owned media have not been spared, with journalists, particularly editors being fired and replaced by junior and inexperienced people hand-picked by government officials.
The Committee for the Protection of Journalists, Independent journalists continue to face police harassment, official intimidation, and the constant threat of arrest under the draconian laws. Several more journalists have gone into exile, joining a growing diaspora and underscoring Zimbabwe's reputation as one of Africa's worst abusers of press freedom and human rights.
The CPJ says at least 90 Zimbabwean journalists, including many of the nation's most prominent reporters, now live in exile in other African nations, the United Kingdom, and the United States, making it one of the largest groups of exiled journalists in the world.
Meanwhile, the country’s broadcasting environment, is monopolized by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings, which has been reduced to a mere propaganda machine. Since the enactment of the Broadcasting Services Act in 2001, no private players have been licensed to operate.
Radio stations set up overseas to counter this, such as Studio 7 and SW Radio Africa media blackout are currently being jammed by the Government.
This has deciminated the media industry and made it highly unfavorable for media investors. However it should not be all gloom and doom. A number of website newspapers have mushroomed and have kept Zimbabweans informed at home and abroad.
That is why a groupd of young Zimbabweans have decided to keep the spirit alive. This blog aims to bring Zimbabwean journalists together, with news of whats happening in their industry and top news in the Zimbabwean media with slant on politics and human rights.
We will also keep our reader up to date with news concerning Zimbabwean journalists. To keep our pens from growing rusty we hope to keep you in touch with training programs and anything of interest. We hope this will be a growing blog and look foward to hearing from you. So please feel free to write to the blog and express your views and anything you want to talk about concerning our MOTHERLAND. Please note we are not here to compete with any journalism group or association but are here to share ideas concerning the media and complement other Zimbabwean media organisations and associations.
Links To Zimbabwean Media