The Daily Telegraph
17th January 2002
By Peta Thornycroft in Harare
A MEDIA Bill intended by President Robert Mugabe to silence his critics was put on hold yesterday after a revolt in parliament from within the ranks of his own Zanu-PF party.
Dr Edison Zvobgo, a Zanu-PF founder who heads the parliamentary legal committee, delayed the second reading of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill by being “unavailable” to present a report on the Bill to parliament.
The block appeared to have forced the government to consider amending the Bill, which has been widely criticised for its threat to jail journalists if they breach a “code of conduct”, before it comes before the house again next week.
It was the second time in two days that Dr Zvobgo, a key member of parliament, had obstructed the will of his leader. Under the constitution, Dr Zvobgo’s committee must vet Bills before they are put to a second vote.
On Tuesday his committee said an amendment to labour legislation, which would have outlawed strikes and trade unions if they were seen to hurt the economy, was in conflict with freedom of association provisions in the constitution.
Yesterday, the media Bill, which would have outlawed independent and foreign journalists not approved by the government, did not appear on the order paper as expected.
Political sources in Harare said that Dr Zvobgo and his committee would have found many clauses within the media Bill unconstitutional.
Speaking in parliament, Patrick Chinamasa, Mr Mugabe’s justice minister, said: “After some lengthy consultations with objective-minded media organisations and the deliberation with honourable members on my side, I have suggested some amendments to the Access to Information and Privacy Bill.” Parliament was adjourned until Tuesday.
Zanu-PF lobbyists are expected to try to strike a deal with Dr Zvobgo to submit his report if some of the Bill’s more robust clauses are withdrawn.
Dr John Makumbe, a political analyst, said: “They are in a bind but, remember, the president can rule by decree and that Bill, and the amendments to labour legislation, can still be put into law, and Zanu-PF needs them ahead of the elections.”
President Mugabe faces the strongest challenge yet to his 22-year rule from Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, in March’s presidential elections.
David Coltart, the shadow justice minister, said yesterday: “Zanu PF want these Bills pushed through, that’s why they have adjourned until Tuesday, presumably so they can work on Zvobgo.”
Dr Zvobgo was one of the founders of Zanu-PF, and its main legal negotiator at the Lancaster House talks in 1979 which led to Zimbabwe’s independence.
In recent years he fell out with Mr Mugabe because he criticised the way the party was run, particularly in his province, Masvingo, south of Harare. He was dropped from the cabinet and from the politburo but is on record as saying he would never leave Zanu-PF.
Several key members of Zanu-PF were absent from parliament on key voting days in the past few weeks, including Simba Makoni, the finance minister who chose to spend time on his farm instead.
Meanwhile, there are shortages of maize meal, the staple food, for a second week, with most rural shops having run out.
Political sources said Mr Mugabe’s cabinet is panicking as it realises that there is no way maize meal can be brought into Zimbabwe from South Africa within three weeks.