Felix Matasva
MUTARE – The country’s restrictive media regulatory framework is
not conducive for investigative journalists to do their work in the fight against
corruption, Manica Post editor Hatred Zenenga has said.
not conducive for investigative journalists to do their work in the fight against
corruption, Manica Post editor Hatred Zenenga has said.
Zenenga expressed the views while
presenting on how investigative journalism could help fight corruption during an
investigative journalism workshop convened by Transparency International
Zimbabwe (TIZ) on November 15.
presenting on how investigative journalism could help fight corruption during an
investigative journalism workshop convened by Transparency International
Zimbabwe (TIZ) on November 15.
Zenenga said the continued delays
in aligning the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa) and
Public Order and Security Act (Posa) was unhelpful.
in aligning the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa) and
Public Order and Security Act (Posa) was unhelpful.
“It has taken a long time for
Aippa and Posa to be realigned to the new constitution. We know that these laws
work against the free operation of investigative journalism. Steps are being
taken but it’s happening slowly, and journalists cannot freely work in such a restrictive
environment,” he said.
Aippa and Posa to be realigned to the new constitution. We know that these laws
work against the free operation of investigative journalism. Steps are being
taken but it’s happening slowly, and journalists cannot freely work in such a restrictive
environment,” he said.
Zenenga also criticised the Official
Secrets Act (Osa) saying much of the law’s provisions were hindering the media
from freely exercising its investigative duties.
Secrets Act (Osa) saying much of the law’s provisions were hindering the media
from freely exercising its investigative duties.
He added that there was need for
the country to revisit its media regulatory framework and media syllabuses in
tertiary institutions so as to match current trends in investigative
journalism.
the country to revisit its media regulatory framework and media syllabuses in
tertiary institutions so as to match current trends in investigative
journalism.
“Training institutions do not
have investigative journalism as a module at undergraduate level. It emerged
recently at master’s level but I think it should be included at undergraduate
level so as to equip young journalists with investigative skills,” said
Zenenga.
have investigative journalism as a module at undergraduate level. It emerged
recently at master’s level but I think it should be included at undergraduate
level so as to equip young journalists with investigative skills,” said
Zenenga.
TIZ programmes officer, Tashinga
Zamba said the criminal justice system was being compromised by serious corruption
hence the need to liberalise the media regulatory environment.
Zamba said the criminal justice system was being compromised by serious corruption
hence the need to liberalise the media regulatory environment.
“We have realised that there
are loopholes in the justice sector but for us to fully know about that,
journalists should be allowed full freedom to do their work,” said Zamba.
are loopholes in the justice sector but for us to fully know about that,
journalists should be allowed full freedom to do their work,” said Zamba.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption
Commission (ZACC) has been criticised for allegedly working at the pleasure of
ruling party politicians.
Commission (ZACC) has been criticised for allegedly working at the pleasure of
ruling party politicians.
The much-criticised Freedom of
Information Bill, Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill and Cybercrimes Bill are the
three bills with which government wants to repeal Aippa.
Information Bill, Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill and Cybercrimes Bill are the
three bills with which government wants to repeal Aippa.
