Press freedom must recognise country’s laws

any form of media suppression.
Addressing journalists at the World Press Freedom Day in Harare yesterday, Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu, called on media organisations to come to the negotiating table to discuss challenges affecting the industry.
“We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring genuine freedom of journalists and media houses,” said Minister Shamu.
“Media houses should operate freely but freely in terms of our own laws.”
Minister Shamu said Government doors were open for discussion on any discrepancies in the media industry.
He said mass media should be encouraged to play a positive role in educating and raising awareness of the public about developmental goals.
Minister Shamu said people had the right to enjoy equal rights, solidarity and self-determination through communication and information.
In this regard, Minister Shamu said: “Governments are obligated to set up complaints procedures entitling citizens to pursue complaints against mass media services and obtain redress without having to hire expensive lawyers.”
Zimbabwe Media Commission chairman, Mr Godfrey Majonga, said despite working on a constrained budget, his commission had managed to open media space by licensing various media houses.
“Since assuming office in February 2010, ZMC has met with challenges militating against the rolling out of action meant to improve the media environment for the benefit of all stakeholders.
“Notwithstanding budgetary constraints which characterise all Government funded entities, the commission managed to achieve much with very limited resources.
“Since assuming office, the commission managed to issue out licences to 28 new houses,” he said.
Mr Majonga said the high number of newspapers on the market should, however, translate to competitiveness in salaries earned by journalists.
In a statement read on his behalf, United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki Moon said: “On World Press Freedom Day, let us remember the journalists, editors and other media professionals who have been killed for their reporting and let us honour their memory by pursuing justice.
“The impunity that often follows such murders suggests a disturbing lack of official concern for the protection of journalists, and outright contempt for the vital role they play.”