THE Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe chapter has criticised the continued threats on journalists which come at a time when the country is celebrating World Press Freedom Day.
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Misa chairperson, Njabulo Ncube said threats on Zimbabwe Independent journalist Dingilizwe Ntuli by the police spokesperson, Charity Charamba was against the principles of media freedom and freedom of expression
Ncube said only last week yet another journalist Blessed Mhlanga of NewsDay was charged with criminal defamation over a story he wrote on the alleged murder of a man by the Masendeke brothers.
Mhlanga joins a long list of journalists working for the private media facing criminal defamation charges.
Ncube said there were democratic means through which public officials and ordinary citizens can seek redress if they felt their reputation has been injured, notably the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe.
“Any other means as suggested by the police simply affirms and cements the country’s position in a league of enemies of a free Press and freedom of expression,” said the Misa chairperson.
He urged authorities to put a stop to increasing threats, harassment and criminalisation of journalists to ensure the media plays its role in the forthcoming elections.
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Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Press Freedom Day — marked every year on May 3 — which comes at a time when the media is still far from operating freely.
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Charamba was quoted in the state media threatening independent journalists, particularly Ntuli after he wrote an article on Friday alleging that Commissioner General of Police, Augustine Chihuri was threatening media practitioners.
“The brazen threats, highlights dangers that continue to plague the free exercise of journalism enterprise in Zimbabwe,” Ncube said.
“They act as a strong reminder of the fact that while the world celebrates progress made in securing freedom of the Press, Zimbabwe is still stuck in archaic media controls and threats grounded on the paranoia of free flowing information.
