IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE/UPDATE - ZIMBABWE

11 January 2005

Mugabe signs repressive new media law

SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York

**Updates IFEX alerts of 11 November, 18 October, 25 June and 6 February
2004, 15 October, 9 and 8 May, 25 March 2003 and others; for further
information on the Criminal Law Act, see alert of 3 December 2004; for the
"The Daily News" case, see alerts of 22 September, 14 June, 11 and 6
February, 23, 22, 16, 13 and 12 January 2004 and others**

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 10 January 2005 press release:

In Zimbabwe, Mugabe signs repressive new media law

New York, January 10, 2005-Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has signed
into law a measure that sets prison terms of up to two years for any
journalist found working without accreditation from the
government-controlled Media and Information Commission. The Committee to
Protect Journalists urges Mugabe and his government to turn away from such
measures, including another piece of repressive legislation still pending.

The newly enacted measure stiffens the 2002 law known as the Access to
Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), which has already been
used to shutter Zimbabwe's only independent daily newspaper, the Daily News.
The measure, titled the AIPPA Amendment Act, took effect on January 7.

Parliament passed the AIPPA Amendment Act in November as one in a series of
draconian measures adopted in advance of general elections scheduled for
March. Critics say the measures are intended to intimidate the last vestiges
of the independent press. Two independent weekly newspapers still operate in
Zimbabwe, and some local correspondents work for foreign news agencies.

Other new legislation includes the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform)
Act, which could be used to jail journalists for up to 20 years for
publishing or communicating to any other person "false" information deemed
prejudicial to the state. CPJ sources said the law could be used to
intimidate journalists and the sources upon which they rely. They also fear
its broad language could be used against Zimbabweans who communicate with
news outlets and other organizations based abroad.

The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act awaits Mugabe's signature.

"CPJ is deeply troubled by these measures, which will have a further
chilling effect on independent journalism in Zimbabwe," CPJ Executive
Director Ann Cooper said. "We call on Zimbabwe's government to reject all
repressive media legislation and to ensure a free media climate for
elections, in line with its own commitments to the Southern African
Development Community."

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) comprises 14 southern and
central African countries, including Zimbabwe, and promotes sustainable
development, democracy, peace and security.

"CPJ calls on SADC-and particularly South Africa's influential president,
Thabo Mbeki-to hold Zimbabwe accountable to regional democratic standards,"
Cooper said. "With the election approaching, it's more important than ever
that the press be allowed to report freely."

Mbeki has been mediating between the Mugabe government and Zimbabwe's main
opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, but he has been muted
in his public comments on Zimbabwe's appalling human rights and free press
record.

In 2004, CPJ named Zimbabwe one of the 10 worst places in the world to be a
journalist. Last month, CPJ wrote to President Mugabe urging him not to sign
the latest repressive media legislation.

To view the letter click here:
http://www.cpj.org/protests/04ltrs/Zim02dec04pl.html

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to
safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit
http://www.cpj.org

For further information, contact Africa Program Coordinator Julia Crawford
(x112) at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465
9344, fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected],
Internet: http://www.cpj.org/

The information contained in this press release/update is the sole
responsibility of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit CPJ.
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