MISA Zimbabwe has filed an urgent chamber application with the High Court seeking an order compelling the government to publish and disseminate information on the private and public testing and treatment centres allocated for dealing with COVID -19 cases.
Statements
COVID-19 is the enemy, not the media!
The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic among other major challenges poses the greatest test to Zimbabwe’s respect for its Bill of Rights more so as it pertains to media freedom and citizens’ right to access to information.
Jailing of PF cadre good for Journalist’s safety
MISA Zambia welcomes the sentencing of Frank Mwale, a Patriotic Front cadre who has been handed a 2-year custodial sentence for the assault of Chipata’s Breeze FM Journalist Grace Lungu.
Exorbitant fees hamper Zimbabwean citizens’ right to information
MISA Zimbabwe calls for the review of listener’s fees for radio and television following the increase of listeners’ licence fees for both radio and television by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill needs to be fine-tuned
MISA Zimbabwe and Media Alliance of Zimbabwe recommend that independence of the Zimbabwe Media Commission be guarded by ensuring that the minister’s powers to interfere with its operations are removed.
Zimbabwe Parliament grills BAZ over radio stations licensing criteria
MISA Zimbabwe maintains that the process used to identify the 10 areas earmarked for the community radio stations was not transparent and had disadvantages to other prospective players.
Imperative need to genuinely free the airwaves in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean government through the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has called for applications for broadcasting services licences for three main categories namely: free to air national commercial television broadcasting service, free to air community radio broadcasting service and campus radio stations.
Zimbabwe’s Broadcasting Service’s Act requires extensive amendment
The Zimbabwe government needs to urgently prioritise the transformation of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and review and amend the Broadcasting Services Act, in line with the country’s Constitution and other regional and international instruments.
Statement: MISA Zimbabwe calls for genuine liberalisation of broadcasting services sector
On 31 January 2020, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services gazetted two Statutory Instruments. SI 26 of 2020 regulates Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Services while SI 27 of 2020 regulates issues relating to Licensing and Content.
The right to privacy, interception of communications and surveillance in Zimbabwe
We have just published an analysis of the right to privacy, interception of communications and surveillance laws in Zimbabwe.