Media reforms, Zim on right path

ON May 3 each year, the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) and the media fraternity join the rest of the world community in commemorating World Press Freedom Day. This year's celebrations are running under the theme Promoting Information as a Public Good. The theme underlines the need to renew global commitment to freedom of expression and of the media.

Based on the theme, nations are encouraged to take stock of strides that have been made in promoting freedom of the Press and of expression as part of the global commitment in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16 as well as strides being made to achieve the goal of “Universal Access to Information”.

It is now 28 years since the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day in 1993. Since then, journalists across the globe have been celebrating the freedom to free expression as enshrined in the charter.

It is encouraging to note that the coming in of the new Constitution coupled with media reforms under the new dispensation, the country continues to create a conducive environment for the media to operate.

The media reforms witnessed the repeal of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa) that was seen by many as stifling freedom of the Press and of expression. The Aippa has been replaced by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Zimbabwe Media Commission Act.

The FOIA provides for access to information held by public entities for the protection of rights or for public accountability and transparency. Citizens can access information held in the public interest. This law is anchored on the need to enhance public accountability and transparency.

On the other hand, the ZMC Act while providing for functions of the commission as provided for by the Constitution, put further safeguards for the protection of freedom of expression and of the Press. The commission is mandated to inquire into those issues or circumstances that threaten freedom of expression and of the media.

The media fraternity, as has been the norm and tradition, gather to commemorate the fundamental principles of Press freedom as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration states that the right to freedom of expression encompasses the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through various media.

Today, the Constitution explicitly guarantees freedom of expression and of the Press which has been a clarion call by many in the media industry. Such a constitutional provision is a clear indication that the people of Zimbabwe are eager to protect and advance principles of freedom of the Press and of expression.

Over the years, the ZMC has issued more than 200 licences to those wishing to establish media houses as part of a broader process to make information accesTHE sible to many across the breadth of the country. This development, for the past years, has met various challenges that include economic difficulties that have made investment in the industry a difficult undertaking. This economic environment, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic has posed further challenges to the sector.

The commission continues to see the registration of new and diverse media houses. This, of course, has not been without challenges. The economic decline, however, has hampered development in this regard. Several licensed media houses have over the years failed to start operating owing mainly to lack of financial capacity. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which had and continues to have a heavy toll on media operations. This has creating challenges in Zimbabwe's quest to achieve the goal of universal access to information by all citizens.

The licensing of the various media houses has provided plurality not only in terms of ownership, but diverse news menu from which the public can sample. It is the hope of the commission that the more news and information are at the disposal of readers, viewers and listeners, the more the diverse sources of information Zimbabweans have.

While the country celebrates the coming on board of various media outlets, issues of professionalism in the media have to be looked at. There have been concerns regarding issues to do with fake news, hate speech and other breaches of freedom of the Press and freedom of expression.

The commission applauds the role the media has been playing and continues to play in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.