This year’s commemorations run under the theme, Embrace diversity, End discrimination, at a time when Zimbabwe is undergoing a historic transitional phase following the signing of the Global Political Agreement and formation of the inclusive government by the three major political parties -  Zanu PF, MDC-M and MDC-T in February 2009.
 
Regrettably, almost a year after the inception of the inclusive government, the exercise and enjoyment of fundamental human rights in Zimbabwe as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the Bill of Rights, is far from being realised.
 
As Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in the call for diversity and an end to discrimination in the fight for human rights, MISA-Zimbabwe notes that some critical issues continue to hinder the enjoyment of the right to free expression such as:
 

• The lack of fundamental media legislative reforms in the wake of the continued existence of repressive legislation such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), Broadcasting Services Act (BSA), Interception of Communications Act (ICA) and Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act).
• The continued monopoly of the broadcasting sector by the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings as compounded by the confusion surrounding the constitution of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and the delay in the establishment of the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC).  
• The selective application of the law regarding registration and licensing of newspapers as evidenced by the granting of a licence to H-Metro which is published by the state-controlled Zimpapers ahead of other publishing companies that are ready to launch their own daily newspapers.  
  

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