With only a few months to go before national elections in Zimbabwe, press freedom advocates are raising concerns about stringent reporting conditions set by the government.
From exorbitant registration fees to cover the much-anticipated polls to physical harassment of journalists covering ruling party rallies, media practitioners report an escalation of attempts to muzzle press freedom, creating hostile conditions for election reporting.
While these journalists - some from small start-ups and privately-owned media houses to those working for international news agencies - have been barred from covering ruling party political rallies, their colleagues from state-controlled media outlets have been allowed free access, raising concerns from press freedom advocates about access to information for voters.
However, these accusations have been dismissed as unfounded by senior editors at outlets that include the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and The Herald, a government-controlled national daily. The Media Institute for Southern Africa has also added its voice to the controversy around double accreditation.
Pressure continues to mount on the government to create a safe working environment for journalists, but with only a few months before the June national elections, confidence is waning among analysts. "It is highly unlikely that we are going to see independent media voices operating effectively and the majority of Zimbabweans will able to access crucial information," he added.
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