Proposed media gag roundly condemned
The Financial Gazette
THE Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Bill, which proposes punishment of up to 20 years imprisonment for anyone who publishes or communicates statements perceived to be prejudicial to the state, is unconstitutional and meant to close any “loopholes” in the existing repressive media laws, analysts said.
The proposed law, which has miffed journalists and other media activists in and outside Zimbabwe, was this week roundly condemned by media experts and analysts who dismissed it as a another strong-arm tactic by the government to further curtail press freedom.
Analysts who spoke to The Financial Gazette said the Bill would deal with those government critics in the media that escape the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
Eldred Masunungure, a political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said the government, which accuses the independent media of working in cahoots with “regime change proponents, probably noticed some loopholes” in AIPPA and POSA, hence the push towards another draconian law.
“It (government) now wants to close every avenue of free expression. It is further tightening the screws on journalists, especially those working in the independent press. It’s part of a grand scheme or total strategy to strangulate the media or those still expressing views contrary to those of the government or the ruling ZANU PF,” said Masunungure.
“There is AIPPA and POSA. Now there is going to be this law. It’s a multiple-pronged approach designed to net as many dissenters as possible. If AIPPA and POSA miss you, this one will get you,” he added.
Human rights lawyer Brian Kagoro, who is also chairman of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a loose grouping of 350 local civic organisations, said the unconstitutionality of the proposed legislation was blatant in that it prohibited Zimbabweans from criticising the state.