Minister says government should maintain media control

Minister says government should maintain media control

WINDHOEK, Namibia, 06 August 2015 / PRN Africa / -- The Deputy Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa on 5 August 2015 said Zimbabwe should retain ownership of all information channels to control and promote progressive messages that foster development.




In an interview with the government-controlled national daily, The Herald,Mutsvangwa said ownership of information channels by the state would ensure progressive messages focused on economic and social development.




MISA-Zimbabwe position




The deputy minister's statements are not only shocking, but out of sync with the spirit and letter of Zimbabwe's constitution and other regional and international instruments that the country is a signatory or state party to.




In fact they bring into question government's sincerity and commitment to undertake comprehensive media legislative reforms in line with the new constitutional dispensation.




Section 61 (3) (b) unambiguously states that broadcasting and other electronic media of communication have freedom of establishment, subject only to state licensing procedures that are independent of control by government or by political or commercial interests.




This is further buttressed by subsection (4), which states that all state-owned media of communication must be free to determine independently the editorial content of their broadcasts or other communications.




It is further stressed that such media should be impartial and afford fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions.




SOURCE Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)


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