World Press Freedom Day nationwide celebrations

MISA-Zimbabwe held belated World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebrations throughout the country on 8 May 2010 which were attended by members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Communication Technology.
 

The commemorations were held in Harare, Chinhoyi, Kwekwe, Gweru, Bulawayo, Gwanda, Masvingo and Mutare, under the theme: Media Freedom & Access to Information should be Constitutional Rights.
In his address at the Bulawayo press club, Gift Chimanikire, Chairperson of the Committee, said the restrictive media environment was the result of the continued existence of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and Broadcasting Services Act (BSA). He expressed concern with delays in tabling the Freedom of Information and Media Practitioners Bills.
 
Speaking at the Masvingo celebrations a member of the Committee, Wurayayi Ziyambi said the role of the Portfolio Committee on Media is to analyse media laws and ensure they are user friendly.
 
The MP for Masvingo Urban, Tongai Matutu concurred with Moses Mzilla who was among the guest speakers in Gwanda on the need for the expeditious processing of applications for licenses by the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC).
 
Mzilla underscored the importance of information in entrenching democracy, “An ignorant nation makes ill informed decisions”.
In Kwekwe he urged MISA-Zimbabwe advocacy committees to get together and petition Parliament to advocate for media freedoms to foster the culture of advocacy and lobbying among citizens.
 
MISA-Zimbabwe was represented by its chairperson Loughty Dube, vice chairperson Njabulo Ncube, and national director Nhlanhla Ngwenya in Masvingo, Gweru and Gwanda respectively. The chairperson articulated MISA-Zimbabwe’s position on the need for constitutional provisions that guarantee and protect media freedom and the right to access to information.
 
Various activities ranging from processions, football matches and press club debates were held throughout the country as part of the WPFD celebrations. //End//

Reagan Malumo
Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht St
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
Phone: +264 61 232 975
Fax: +264 61 248 016
Mobile: +264 81 311 2626

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