The Media Commission said it will issue the licenses within three days for the rollout of papers including the Daily News, forced to close in 2003 by the government, and Newsday from the Independent-Standard group
This is set to bring media pluralism and provide the Zimbabwean public with a wider choice of news outlets. State media has dominated the news terrain of a country that has been polarized on political grounds giving little room for dissenting voices to be heard thereby compromising the basic fundamentals of democracy- freedom of speech.
The recently constituted Zimbabwe Media Commission announced at a news conference late Thursday that it will issue licenses for four new daily papers in a major expansion of the country's long-suffering press.
The Media Commission said it will issue the licenses within three days for the rollout of papers including the Daily News, forced to close in 2003 by the government, and Newsday from the Independent/Standard group.
The commission has been embroiled in controversy since news emerged that former Media and Information Commission Chairman Tafataona Mahoso, responsible for shutting a number of publications, was engaged as the chief executive officer of the commission that replaced in a process that was supposed to reform the sector.
Commissioners said they needed his administrative experience for the interim.
Another worrying issue for media practitioners in Zimbabwe is the continued existence of laws that undermine their line due as they restrain their freedom of speech and expression. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), Public Order and Security Act (POSA) which were central to the closure of the Daily News and The Tribune are still in place despite assurances from the Mugabe-Tsvangirai unity government to amend these and other "draconian laws."
-VOA News & Simba Nembaware
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