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Leonard Ncube–Victoria Falls Reporter
INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said Government will continue prioritising the safety and welfare of journalists as the media is critical to socio-economic development of Zimbabwe.
She was speaking in Victoria Falls yesterday while officiating at the international day to end impunity for crimes against journalists, organised by Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) together with UNESCO, Media Monitors, International Media Support and the Ministry of Information.
The regional event, which started yesterday and ends today, also marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Plan of Action (UNPA) on the safety of journalists.
Various stakeholders including media executives, journalism unions, embassies, funders and civic society are attending.
Minister Mutsvangwa, who is also Government spokesperson, said the media have helped the Government to be accountable to the electorate especially through the Tuesday post Cabinet briefing.
She commended journalists for playing an instrumental role during the Covid-19 lockdown by educating and informing citizens, a role that the Government recognised by declaring the media an essential service.
A survey done in Zimbabwe showed that 98 percent of citizens knew about all World Health Organisation precautionary and health protocols because of the media, said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“Government on its part will continuously effect media reforms for a friendly environment for journalists, including training workshops for various stakeholders to ensure a violence free general election next year.
“Government has achieved some major milestones in enabling a conducive environment for the media and these include repealing some laws and crafting new pieces of legislation,” she said.
The Minister said while the world mourns about 300 journalists who have been killed on duty over the years, no serious cases had been recorded in Zimbabwe, a testimony to Government’s awareness and attitude to the need to inculcate a culture that embraces freedom of the media and abhors impunity.
“Zimbabwe, under the Second Republic has made the safety of journalists an issue of high priority, hence our enactment of the Freedom of Information Act to provide both the media and the public legislative protection in their quest to access information.
“The Second Republic is putting in a lot of media reforms, part of that is to make sure that we open up a lot of media space in line with the mantra of leaving no place and no-one behind as we remove polarisation which had existed over a number of years.
“We are here to support this gesture done by UNESCO in terms of making sure we deal with issues of security and welfare of our journalists and also of impunity. We are very serious about the security of our journalists and we have demonstrated this in so many ways as a Government especially by repealing the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said the Government has made sure that all acts are aligned to the people driven constitution, which speaks very clearly about freedoms and universal access to information.
The Government through the Ministry of Information has signed Memoranda of Understandings with a number of countries for training of journalists, as one of the measures of improving their welfare.
“Let me reiterate that the Government of Zimbabwe, under the able leadership of His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa, is committed to providing a safe operating media environment and to guaranteeing freedom of the press to ensure that media practitioners execute their duties freely for the attainment of Vision 2030.
“When it comes to security we as a Ministry have been constantly concerned about the welfare of our journalists.
The Second Republic strives to protect the rights of journalists at all times and strongly denounces acts of violence perpetrated on members of the media.
“We advocate for the law to deal with perpetrators of violence. I categorically say impunity on crimes against journalists is unacceptable as it seeks to silence voices that keep our society in check,” said the Minister.
She said this year’s commemorations were delayed to incorporate and put in context the recommendations from the high-level multi stakeholder conference held in Vienna, Austria on the safety of journalists.
The recommendations and four pillars of media — prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership — will go a long way in improving the security of journalists.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the event comes at a time when the issue of impunity for crimes against journalists continues unabated.
She said this particular conference will come up with regional recommendations for local and regional journalists in line with our mantra of ‘Leaving no one and no place behind.”
Attacks on media workers continue incessantly across the world, with countries that are renowned as strongholds of democracy sliding down on the world press freedom indexes.
“Sadly, those who perpetrate crimes against journalists go unpunished, which should not be the case as there are laws that protect and give journalists the freedom to perform their duties without fear,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She called for unity in the journalism fraternity on the continent saying multi-stakeholder consultation and research is needed and critical.
“We are very grateful to our journalists and we are aware there is a lot more that needs to be done about their welfare. We want our journalists to be investigative and write stories that help cut down corruption and unite people. We are not saying journalists should not write critical stories,” she said.
She said the Government always rebukes political parties for violence against journalists at some political rallies.
“The Second Republic strives to protect the rights of journalists at all times and strongly denounces acts of violence perpetrated on members of the media, as we advocate for the long arm of the law to deal with perpetrators of violence,” added Minister Mutsvangwa.
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