adminNqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
JOURNALISTS have urged the Government to implement recommendations of the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI) as it is critical in the transformation of the country’s media industry.
In 2013, the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services set up the IMPI committee whose role was to gather information on ways to improve the media industry in the country.
But the recommendations are yet to be implemented and Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary general Mr Foster Dongozi, in his organisation’s message to commemorate World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday, said the Government should start putting the recommendations into practice.
World Press Freedom Day was commemorated under the theme: Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.
“We want to appeal to the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services to implement recommendations of the IMPI report because it can result in the improvement of the media industry. There are so many recommendations which may improve the professional standards for journalists.
Among the recommendations is the National Employment Council for journalists,” said Mr Dongozi.
He said the NEC for journalists would become a vehicle to address issues to do with journalists’ welfare.
“The National Employment Council will become a platform to negotiate for better working conditions and salaries for journalists. As you are aware when journalists have a good environment, issues to do with corruption and other negative aspects will be better handled,” Mr Dongozi said.
He bemoaned the harassment of journalists saying last year the country saw a 100 percent increase in arrests of journalists.
“Journalists from both the private and the public media were arrested last year by the police on mostly frivolous charges where conviction has never been secured. Last year we saw over 100 percent increase in the number of journalists arrested,” said Mr Dongozi.
He said the media should not be muzzled in conducting its duties. In a statement, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa), Zimbabwe said Government should uphold constitutionality in promulgating cyber laws.
“As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day on 3 May this year, MISA Zimbabwe urges the Government to ensure the proposed cyber crime laws do not erode constitutional rights to free expression online and offline,” read Misa’s statement.
Misa said the Cyber Bill has clauses that infringe on the country’s freedom of expression and should be amended before being passed to law.
“It is our well considered view that some of the Bill’s clauses, if not amended, infringe on fundamental rights to free expression and access to information.
The other bills include the Data Protection Bill and Electronic Transaction and Electronic Commerce Bill,” read the statement.
“While it is the Government’s mandate to protect the country from crimes generated through the Internet, the proposed laws should be fair, reasonable and justifiable in a democratic society.”
—@nqotshili
Online Reporter