Political parties in Zimbabwe guilty of repression
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) really needs to put a stop to their Zanu-fication:
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) statement on the barring of ZBC crew from covering an MDC-T rally in Gweru
The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe is concerned by reports that rowdy youths allegedly belonging to the MDC-T barred a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) news crew from covering the party’s rally at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru over the weekend, accusing the broadcaster of reporting negatively about their party.
The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) condemns in the strongest terms the barring of the reporters from executing their mandate of reporting accurately and objectively to society.
It is an issue of serious concern that the youths, and anyone for that matter, should interfere with journalists who are only undertaking their professional duties be they from the private media or state media houses.
The VMCZ is also of the strong view that political parties need to revisit their understanding of Section 20 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and access to information. It is this section that makes the right of the Zimbabwean public and all media professionals to receive and impart information a fundamental human right and not a privilege.
Political parties are strongly urged to restrain their supporters to refrain from attacking journalists and media practitioners and for the supporters to tolerate divergence of views that exist in the Zimbabwean society.
It is against this background that VMCZ urges all political parties in Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans in general, who have a problem with a media story as is published by print or broadcast media in Zimbabwe to approach the VMCZ Media Complaints Committee to seek redress. Email info [at] vmcz [dot] co [dot] zw
All reported cases are dealt with under the VMCZ Code of Conduct which regulates the operations of the media in the country.