Zimind Publishers to launch daily newspaper

Zimind Publishers which publishes the Zimbabwe Independent and The Standard weeklies says plans are well on course to launch a daily newspaper which will be known as NewsDay. Zimind Publishers chairman Trevor Ncube who also owns the South African based M&G Media Ltd which publishes the Mail & Guardian, said NewsDay which would hit the streets soon, would play a vital role in rebuilding the nation as a forum and market place for ideas and debates to create a prosperous economy as the nation thrives to revive the education, health and social sectors.

Ncube said his group had been encouraged by discussions it held with officials of the new inclusive government and the regulatory authorities adding that the project was expected to create 300 jobs in the publishing sector. “We have briefed both the inclusive government and the regulatory authorities and we are confident that we will be licensed as soon as possible. We don’t foresee any obstacles,” he said.

Under Article 19 of the Global Political Agreement signed by Zanu PF and the two MDC formations paving way for the formation of the inclusive government, the parties to the agreement said they would ensure, among other issues, the immediate processing by the appropriate authorities of all applications for re-registration (of media houses) and registration in terms of both the Broadcasting Services Act as well as Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

MISA-Zimbabwe position

MISA-Zimbabwe welcomes this development as long overdue considering the long absence of a privately owned national daily in the country following the ban of The Daily News in September 2003 by the statutory Media and Information Commission MIC) in terms of the repressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).

Access to diverse opinions, ideas and views through media plurality and diversity empowers citizens to meaningfully participate in governance issues from informed positions that will enable them to make informed decisions and choices especially during elections.

MISA-Zimbabwe therefore urges the government to work towards the creation of an open media environment by ensuring the speedy conclusion of the application by Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) to register its banned publications, The Daily News and The Daily News on Sunday whose application has been pending before the statutory regulatory authorities.

The transformation of the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) coupled with the freeing of the airwaves to allow for the entry of private players into the broadcasting sector should also be of urgent concern to the inclusive government which has committed itself to ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to ensure that the media plays its critical role in a multi-party democracy.

Comprehensive media law reforms that include a constitutional provision that explicitly guarantees media freedom should therefore be undertaken to allow for the emergence of a vibrant and participatory media sector.

Rashweat Mukundu
Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring
MISA Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: + 264 61 232 975
Fax:+264 61 248016
Mobile: 00 264 813 675 362
E mail rashweat@misa.org, misaalerts@gmail.com

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