Zimbabwe
IMS is giving support to help media in Zimbabwe overcome increasingly difficult working conditions following the political and economic turbulence in the country in recent years. In close collaboration with local media, regional and international media organisations, IMS brokered the formulation of a joint strategy for support to media in Zimbabwe. Direct support to media includes financial support to Radio Voice of People (VOP) in Harare which was bombed and its staff taken to court.Archive
- MISA statement 27-5-2010
- Victory for media in Zimbabwe
- Virtual networking – building trust and knowledge in difficult settings
- Zimbabwean Union of Journalists studying Scandinavian model
- Media watchdog in Zimbabwe
- "Zimbabweans are hiding their radios fearing to be accused of sabotage"
- Statement of the Zimbabwe Fact finding Mission of African Media Organisations, 13 June 2008
- Media in Zimbabwe preparing for the ultimate battle
- Zimbabwean media continue to struggle
- Zimbabwe media council visits Denmark
- International Conference on Media Support Strategies for Zimbabwe, 2005
Victory for media in Zimbabwe
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Breakthrough for newspapers in Zimbabwe as the country's Media Commission approves licenses for five new newspapers. This will open new doors for media support
By Jesper Strudsholm
Zimbabwe’s inclusive government reached an important milestone on 26 May 2010 when the country’s newly established media commission decided to license five new newspapers.
This is a crucial sign that the authorities under President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are serious when it comes to allowing the citizens of Zimbabwe free access to information and opposing views ahead of the next elections.
IMS has been actively supporting media in Zimbabwe since 2002 and from Copenhagen, IMS executive director, Jesper Højberg welcomes the latest development:
- We are happy for the Zimbabweans who will get access to more sources of daily information from now on, and we congratulate the Media Commission for its achievements, says Jesper Højberg, Executive Director of IMS.
IMS’ non-partisan efforts in Zimbabwe have always been built around media freedom and people’s own right to choose and have included partners on both sides of the political divide.
One step – more needed
Media institutions in the region applaud the latest development. MISA – Media Institute of Southern Africa issued a statement in which it welcomed the development. At the same time MISA stressed that this is a mere step on the road to a comprehensive media reform that is still much needed in Zimbabwe:
“Despite the new licenses journalists and media houses still have to comply with the repressive provisions of Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and Criminal defamation laws that impose severe penalties, that include jail terms.”
Jesper Højberg supports this view, stressing that the arrival of the new newspapers does not mean the end of the need of support to media in Zimbabwe.
- Many people live in rural areas without access – they also need information – we hope to step up our efforts and will try to utilize the openings created.
With the advent of new newspapers, IMS will continue to support training to journalists across the board to stress the need for unbiased and professional reporting in a society where the risk of polarised media is high.
Notes to the editor:
IMS supports a range of initiatives in Zimbabwe that secures access to information for people who have no access to newspapers and often don’t have radio or TV either.
In Zimbabwe, IMS is also facilitating meetings and other consultative processes that bring professionals from both state and private media together in an attempt to create dialogue and strengthen a professional dissemination of news
For more information, contact Jesper Strudsholm at IMS.
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