Zimbabwean reporters have faced growing threats from the ruling party since Emmerson Mnangagwa took office in 2017. Now, in the run-up to the general elections, the media are bracing for even more intimidation.
Five years after Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised a raft of democratic reforms following a bloodless coup in November 2017, media and human rights watchdogs have raised the red flag on his government’s closure of the media space.
They were covering a rally for Nelson Chamisa, leader of the main opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change, ahead of by-elections. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights national director Roselyn Hanzi said it was “quite shocking” that the Zimbabwean government peddled falsehoods at the forum in a bid to escape censure.
This comes at a time when the government continues to control the airwaves. All community radio stations that were licensed recently are somehow linked to the ruling party. The Zimbabwe Media Commission has also weighed in, saying attacks on journalists are a threat to democracy. “The ideals of tolerance and restraint should be the guiding principles in dealing with the media. A free media can assist Zimbabwe in fostering the values of democracy as envisaged in the National Development Strategy 1 ,” reads part of the commission’s statement.Nyamutumbu said self-regulation can also help journalists be safe.
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