HARARE – Zimbabwe’s former chief media policeman, Tafataona Mahoso, told a parliamentary committee that should he be selected to head a new media commission he would ensure that journalists operated within the confines of the law.
Mahoso – dubbed the “media hangman” by Zimbabwean journalists – oversaw the closure of five privately owned newspapers and instigated the arrest of scores of reporters during his time as chairman of the government’s now defunct Media and Information Commission (MIC).
He has applied to join the planned Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) that Zimbabwean journalists, human rights groups and pro-democracy activists hope will work to free the media after years of strict government controls.
“Media freedom means freedom to operate within the confines of the law. Also journalists must respect their audience,” Mahoso told a parliamentary panel conducting public interviews for candidates wishing to be appointed to the ZMC and another body that will oversee the electronic media.
The ZMC and the new Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) are part of new bodies to be set up in terms of Constitutional Amendment Number 19 and meant to help open up the political space and to democratise state institutions that have been under the control of President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF party.
The constitutional amendment was enacted earlier this year to facilitate the unity government between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Mugabe following the signing of a power-sharing agreement last September.
Opening the hearings in the Senate Chamber, parliamentary speaker Lovemore Moyo described the setting up of the various commissions that will include the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), Independent Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (IZEC) and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) as historic.
“We witness this historic process of appointing commissioners,” Moyo said, adding; “The eyes of the public are upon us today, the nation places hope on us.”
ZMC will replace the Mahoso-led MIC, which in addition to shutting down newspapers is also known for issuing stringent conditions for registration of foreign journalists wishing to work in Zimbabwe.
The IZEC is set to replace the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, accused by Tsvangirai’s MDC party of backing and supporting Mugabe and ZANU PF in the last polls.
The ACC is expected to deal with worsening corruption in the country while the ZHRC is expected to start work in reviewing the human rights situation in the country.
First to be interviewed was Millicent Mombeshora – currently employed at the central bank – who said if appointed commissioner she would want to see responsible and ethical journalism, adding that there was need for media that showed depth in the coverage of issues.
Also interviewed was Vambe Jirira, Dr Geoffrey Takawira Chada, former chief executive officer of the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust and Susan Makore, a Media Studies lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.
Former state broadcaster Godfrey Majonga, who said the setting up of the ZMC was meant to “promote freedom of information and promote multiplicity of newspapers that is characterised by ethical reporting”, was also interviewed.
Majonga also said there was a need to promote the establishment community newspapers and radio stations.
Of the 27 listed candidates, 12 will be selected and their names forwarded to Mugabe who will pick the nine commissioners as well as the chairman.
Another six names will also be forwarded to Mugabe who will pick three people to constitute the new BAZ.
The candidates were being interviewed by five lawmakers drawn from members of the three parties in Parliament who will recommend successful candidates to Mugabe for appointment.
The candidates all had to answer six questions within 15 minutes.
Some of the candidates that had been short-listed include Tichaona Zinhumwe, Ropafadzo Mapimhidze, Dr Vimbai Chivaura, Rev Useni Sibanda, Dr Lawton Hikwa, former ZBC head Henry Muradzikwa, former head of Mass Communication at Harare Polytechnic Timothy Nyahunzvi, Wabata K Munodawafa, Mirriam Madziwa, Douglass Dhliwayo, Fidelis Zvomuya, Freddy Samupindi, Elizabeth Karonga, Dr Tafataona Mahoso, former Financial Gazette editor Nqobile Nyathi, Rodger Stringer, Kindness Paradza, Dr Rino Zhuwarara, Chris Mhike, Clemence Mabaso, Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa, Matthew Takaona and Benson Ntini.
– ZimOnline
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Zimbabwe's Daily News to get licence back
IN a dramatic turn of events, the Zimbabwe government has granted the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe’s (ANZ) an operating licence as a mass media service provider – six years after its flagship newspaper, The Daily News, was shut down.
ANZ are the publishers of both The Daily News and Daily News On Sunday, the two titles which were shut down by the government-appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC) on September 12, 2003.
A special committee set up in September 2008 to review the decision was “satisfied that the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) have complied with the provisions of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act”.
The ‘Special Board Committee on ANZ’ acting chairman Edward Dube wrote to the ANZ’s lawyers last week advising them it would get the licence. Dube also wrote to Information Minister Webster Shamu advising him of the decision.
ANZ, however, must wait for a few weeks to get a licence following the disbandment of the MIC by a constitutional amendment.
The MIC is to be replaced by the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC).
The Parliamentary Standing Rules and Orders Committee has set August 3 as the day for conducting interviews for people who applied to sit on the ZMC board .
It will forward the names of not less than 12 nominees to President Robert Mugabe who will choose nine.
A power sharing government formed in February committed itself to guaranteeing media freedoms and moved to disband the MIC which was described by a judge as “biased”.
The granting of ANZ’ licence comes hard on the heels of a government decision to re-admit the BBC and CNN back into the country, 8 years after they were forced out.
But it is the return of the Daily News that could signal a major policy shift by President Robert Mugabe and his allies in the Zanu-PF party.
The Daily News suffered harassment from the Zimbabwe government over many years, including two bomb attacks. In January 2001, The Daily News printing press was blown up when suspected Mugabe security agents stormed the company's printing factory at James Martin Drive, Lochinvar , in Harare.
The Daily News went for several months without a printing press until the paper was given one by a Swedish firm.
In 2002, Mugabe and his allies in the then Zanu PF government, promulgated the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) which required all newspapers and journalists to register with the MIC.
This became the law that would silence The Daily News for six years.
Publishers of The Daily News, ANZ, refused to register with the MIC and argued that it was an infringement on the freedom of expression.
On September 10, 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that The Daily News was operating outside the law and had to register with the MIC.
Two days later, September 12, 2003, heavily armed police ordered the paper to close its offices and took all the production equipment including the computers to Chikurubi Maximum Prison where they were locked away.
-journalism.co.za
ANZ are the publishers of both The Daily News and Daily News On Sunday, the two titles which were shut down by the government-appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC) on September 12, 2003.
A special committee set up in September 2008 to review the decision was “satisfied that the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) have complied with the provisions of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act”.
The ‘Special Board Committee on ANZ’ acting chairman Edward Dube wrote to the ANZ’s lawyers last week advising them it would get the licence. Dube also wrote to Information Minister Webster Shamu advising him of the decision.
ANZ, however, must wait for a few weeks to get a licence following the disbandment of the MIC by a constitutional amendment.
The MIC is to be replaced by the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC).
The Parliamentary Standing Rules and Orders Committee has set August 3 as the day for conducting interviews for people who applied to sit on the ZMC board .
It will forward the names of not less than 12 nominees to President Robert Mugabe who will choose nine.
A power sharing government formed in February committed itself to guaranteeing media freedoms and moved to disband the MIC which was described by a judge as “biased”.
The granting of ANZ’ licence comes hard on the heels of a government decision to re-admit the BBC and CNN back into the country, 8 years after they were forced out.
But it is the return of the Daily News that could signal a major policy shift by President Robert Mugabe and his allies in the Zanu-PF party.
The Daily News suffered harassment from the Zimbabwe government over many years, including two bomb attacks. In January 2001, The Daily News printing press was blown up when suspected Mugabe security agents stormed the company's printing factory at James Martin Drive, Lochinvar , in Harare.
The Daily News went for several months without a printing press until the paper was given one by a Swedish firm.
In 2002, Mugabe and his allies in the then Zanu PF government, promulgated the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) which required all newspapers and journalists to register with the MIC.
This became the law that would silence The Daily News for six years.
Publishers of The Daily News, ANZ, refused to register with the MIC and argued that it was an infringement on the freedom of expression.
On September 10, 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that The Daily News was operating outside the law and had to register with the MIC.
Two days later, September 12, 2003, heavily armed police ordered the paper to close its offices and took all the production equipment including the computers to Chikurubi Maximum Prison where they were locked away.
-journalism.co.za
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