By caven Masuku
Zimbabwe today join hands to commemorate the World Press freedom Day, a move which most media practitioners believe that it is yet to be reformed. The speech read on behalf of the Media Institute of Southern Africa in Zimbabwe (MISA) hinted that the inclusive government should repeal draconian media laws such as POSA, AIPPA and BSA. These laws cause severe challenges to media practioners.
Again MISA said that freedom of speech should be guided jealously for journalist to tell the truth and to work effectively. The invited guest honorable deputy minister Sisel Zvidzai said that inclusive government is not an accident. His party MDC T saw it necessary to solve political dispute through negotiation. People often talk about the inclusive government as a child product of rape case said the honorable Zvidzai.
Zvidzai said that inclusive government is there to give freedom to the people of Zimbabwe. However, Zvidzai admitted that inclusive government have a mammoth task since Zimbabwe had a high inflation rate. The unique babe which is a result of rape case needs to be breast feed and the press should play a pivotal role in telling the truth.
The honorable said that inclusive government has so far achieved certain issues which among include the availability of basic commodities, improved health conditions, better water purification, sewage improvement and the decline of cholera cases. As the media celebrated the press freedom, honorable said that this is another achievement which is about to be truly achieved. Media laws such as interception bill of communications which debugs mobile phone message, electronic mails, snail mails and so forth has to be repealed completely. Self regulation is the only responsibility that can guide the journalist to execute their duties effectively said Sisel Zvidzai.
“Economic stability which is still standing but is gradually addressed through short term economic recovery program (STEP), is likely to bring the positive development to Zimbabwe financial wellbeing”, said the honorable Zvidzai.
Furthermore, Zvidzai said that the move by America, Germany and other countries to remove travel ban will benefit Zimbabwe a lot and assist in reviving the international relationships. Britain’s move of donating fifteen million pounds for water purification and food staff will go a long way in improving the life style of the people of Zimbabwe said Zvidza. Gremmer Phiri the chapter Zimbabwe union of Journalism (ZUJ) read the speech on behalf of the ZUJ president Matthew Takaona. In the ZUJ speech the theme for 2009 press freedom day celebration is “reconstruction of media responsibility”. ZUJ expressed their happiness with the deal of inclusive government which was brokered by the three Zimbabwe main political parties as the best solution ever to the people of Zimbabwe.
ZUJ however, said that despite 81 day of inclusive government there is little achievement especially to the media fraternity. ZUJ said that they will be happy to see reforms in liberalization of air waves and that per ser will show the freedom of the press.
Again the other reform that ZUJ wish to see is plural media. More newspapers should be licensed to operate and Daily News should bounce back. Self regulation should be the best conduct of media practioners .
The Gweru Press Freedom Day was celebrated in style and all media practitioners were left in a jovial mood with lots of entertainment.
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