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Harare Bureau
UNIONS that represent journalists have hailed Government’s intention to strike off criminal defamation from the country’s statutes, describing it as a step in right direction. Zimbabwe Media Commission chairman Godfrey Majonga said his organisation welcomed sentiments by Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo to that effect saying the law was criminalising journalism.
Prof Moyo said Government would soon strike off criminal defamation from the country’s statutes to align the law with provisions of the new Constitution that guarantee freedom of expression and freedom of the media.
“It was one of the concerns brought to us by our stakeholders. They said the law criminalises journalism. We welcome the statements by the Minister (Prof Moyo) they will go a long way in addressing concerns over the law,” said Majonga.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists vice-president Mike Chideme also hailed Government’s intention to repeal the law.
“It is a step in the right direction, we have been campaigning regularly against the law. In our view the law has done a lot of damage to the image of the country,” said Chideme.
“Repealing the law is a move that will bring a lot of goodwill to Zimbabwe. We also feel that the move will give an image of Zimbabwe as a country that promotes press freedom.”
Media Institute of Southern Africa, Zimbabwe Chapter chairman Njabulo Ncube echoed the same sentiments saying the law was promoting self censorship.
“We are saying thumbs up to the Minister for making such statements. Defamation laws must go and they must go now,” he said.
In an interview with the Sunday Mail, Prof Moyo said the existence of criminal defamation in the legal statutes has caused the country more harm than good, adding that that Section 96 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] (the Criminal Law Code) will be repealed following extensive consultations with stakeholders in the media industry.
He said his ministry, which oversees the media industry, is the most affected by criminal defamation hence he was convinced that the days of having criminal defamation in the country’s statutes now lie in the past.
Online Reporter