Download - Media Institute of Southern Africa

State of the media in Southern Africa 2002
Regional Overview
By Kaitira Kandjii
MISA Regional Programme Manager: Freedom of Expression and Right to
Information
By Zoé Titus
MISA Regional Programme Coordinator: Media Freedom Monitoring
The media freedom and freedom of expression situation in countries in
the SADC region has not deteriorated significantly in the last year
apart from two hotspots – Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
During 2002 MISA issued a total of 208 alerts on media freedom violations in
the 11 SADC countries that it monitors compared to a total of 207 alerts issued
in the previous year. In stark contrast, MISA has issued only 10 (ten) reports of
victories in the media freedom and freedom of expression landscape in those
same countries.
In the two hotspots, in particular in Zimbabwe, there has been a serious regression
in the media freedom and freedom of expression situation. In Zimbabwe
the government has openly declared war on the private media, while in Swaziland
the government has shown no respect for the rule of law.
The official position of the government of Zimbabwe is to make normal journalistic
practices criminal so that working in the media becomes a dangerous
profession. The private media was threatened and attacked throughout 2002,
particularly by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, the Army-General, the
police and President Mugabe, who accused the media of “peddling lies, exaggerations
and manufacturing news.” This usually occurred as a result of articles
considered detrimental to the authority of the ruling party and State organs.
Journalists’ homes were raided and several were barred from or assaulted whilst
covering public events. The violence did not spare public media journalists
who were on some occasions harassed by opposition party supporters and a
ZBC cameraperson was severely beaten by soldiers.
2002
Several foreign journalists were denied accreditation to cover the presidential
elections in March. The Daily News offices and community radio stations Voice
of the People (VOP) and Radio Dialogue were raided; documentation and tapes
were illegally removed. Most seriously the Daily News’ Bulawayo offices were
petrol-bombed, as was the printing press of a company that produced opposition
campaign material. A bomb destroyed the entire VOP premises in August.
Police have failed to charge a single person for any of the attacks.
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