ZUJ says independent press council to be set up before December
Reporting by SW RADIO
(UK)
The president of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) Matthew Takaona has disclosed that an independent press council will be in place before December to regulate the media. Responding to an attack by the Media and Information Commission (MIC) that ZUJ was involved in anti-government propaganda, Takaona says they are surprised by the accusations in light of their efforts at engaging government. He says the MIC chief, Tafataona Mahoso, made the allegations on the eve of a two-day lobbying conference organised by the media alliance of Zimbabwe to push Members of Parliament who are on the communications portfolio to support the repealing of repressive media laws.

Takaona says it’s accepted worldwide that self-regulation of the media is the best option and that even the ministry of information had given its endorsement of the idea to ZUJ. He says their meetings with the acting Information Minister Paul Mangwana have been productive and that they expect to have the council in place by December. Its not clear though whether any of the groups involved in negotiating with government can secure a repeal of the repressive media laws in place.

The state appointed media commission called on government to probe the ZUJ leadership. Mahoso revealed in his weekly Sunday Mail article that they have already written to the Ministry of Information making the request. Mahoso accused Nunurai Jena, a provincial secretary for ZUJ in Mashonaland West, of stringing for VOA ‘s Studio 7 radio station. Mahoso went on to say they have already asked the police to investigate the matter. He also says ZUJ wrote to the Netherlands embassy and UNESCO requesting funds to advance an anti-Zimbabwe agenda.

Mahoso has been on the warpath attacking all the major media organisations in the country. At the end of September he attacked MISA for allegedly portraying itself as ‘regime change activists’ to the donor community. He also accused the media alliance of Zimbabwe comprising the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ), MISA and ZUJ, of holding clandestine meetings under the guise of working for media law reform. Observers say Mahoso is worried a self-regulatory media council will make the MIC redundant and that this was the motivation behind his attacks.
MEANWHILE ZIMDAILY REPORTS THAT
Leo Mugabe Defies The Media Hangman

Reporting by ZimDaily

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s nephew Leo has defied Media and Information Commission (MIC) chairman Tafataona Mahoso by attending a media reform review workshop organised by local media pressure groups. The state-controlled MIC on Friday attacked MISA-Zimbabwe, the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) and the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) for portraying themselves to the donor community as “regime change activists” seeking to repeal the country’s restrictive media laws.Mahoso’s statement was issued on the eve of a two-day parliamentary lobbying conference organised by the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe to push for the repeal of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and Broadcasting Services Act (BSA), among other repressive media laws.

In the statement, published in the official Herald daily newspaper, Mahoso accused MISA-Zimbabwe, ZUJ and MMPZ of convening clandestine meetings under the guise of media law reform. The three organisations constitute the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ).But Leo, the chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio for Transport and Communication, addressed the gathering and urged local media organisations and owners to engage the House of Assembly for the review of perceived repressive media laws.

“We should work together for a better media environment in the country,” said Leo, who assured the meeting that some members of his committee would grace the two-day event. Mahoso, as chairman of MIC, played a crucial role in the closure of The Daily News and its sister paper, The Daily News on Sunday, and two other privately owned newspapers.

ZUJ Hits BackMISA-Zimbabwe, ZUJ and MMPZ yesterday hit back at Mahoso, accusing the media hangman of being ill-informed and bent on further stifling press freedom in Zimbabwe.“Contrary to Mahoso’s assertions that the Acting Minister of Information Dr Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana was not aware of the meeting, MISA-Zimbabwe has it on record that invitations were extended to the minister and the MIC chairman himself well in advance of the meeting. His reference to ‘clandestine’ meetings is also baffling because Mahoso himself acknowledges that he was invited to the meeting,” said MISA-Zimbabwe in a media alert issued yesterday. “MISA-Zimbabwe therefore dismisses Mahoso’s desperate rantings as not warranting any serious attention. Mahoso, as has become the norm, will go to any lengths to protect his supper which comes by way of the contentious Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act which created the statutory MIC which he chairs,” MISA added.
Not Bothered By Mahoso Rantings
ZUJ president Matthew Takaona told ZimDaily that the purpose of the workshop was to reflect on media laws, adding that the union was not bothered by Mahoso’s allegations. Andy Moyse, the executive director at MMPZ, said: “Coming from Mahoso, the rantings are expected. He was invited (but) instead he chose to stay away and criticise the workshop. It goes to show the total failure of the MIC to constructively engage the local media players in serious work.”