Zim Ranked 126 Out Of 180 Countries Without Borders Press Index

Zimbabwe was ranked number 126 out of 180 countries in the world for not having borders press index. Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) revealed on Friday.

Borders press index is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters without Borders since 2002 based upon the organisation’s own assessment of the countries’ press freedom records in the previous year.

According to a report commissioned by MISA Zimbabwe on behalf of the MISA Regional Chapters, a lot countries in the SADC region have hostile operational environment for journalists but Zimbabwe was rated the most hostile.

In January 2019, after the government in Zimbabwe announced a 150% hike in fuel prices, national protests broke out against the economic injustices. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, stated in his 2019 report on Zimbabwe that at least 843 people were detained and about 1,055 persons charged and tried for several protest related offences. Civic space continues to shrink, with the arrest, destruction of media tools, blockage from accessing news scenes, harassment and arbitrary prosecutions of journalists while carrying out their duties. Zimbabwe currently ranks 126 out of 180 countries assessed globally by the Reporters without Borders Press Index.

This is ironic, given the fact that Zimbabwe is surrounded by countries like Namibia, South Africa and Botswana which are among the highest ranking in the world in terms of facilitating the enjoyment of media freedoms and freedom of expression.  The report revealed.

However, Zimbabwe is not alone as other countries also fitted the criteria on violations of media rights. Angola in 2017 enacted a bundle of laws, dubbed the Social Communication Legislative Package, 2017, as amended in the legislature, including the Broadcast Law, Television Law, Journalist Code of Conduct and the Press Law, aimed at advancing media freedom and freedom of expression. The bundle of laws establishes the Social.

 

“Communication Regulatory Body (ERCA), which regulates journalists’ conduct and investigates producers of online content without judicial oversight. The body is also mandated to suspend or ban websites that fail to abide by “good standards of journalism”. In addition, publication of hate speech, defamatory material and false news are offences. Angola’s private media outlets are owned by high ranking state officials, thereby acting as the government’s mouthpiece, and making it difficult to do critical reporting against the state.” Read the report.

Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, In their 2013 report on the state of press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that South African newspapers entering the country are thoroughly screened for information negatively depicting the king and if found, all copies are purchased by the government and destroyed.

The report stated that the country has two newspapers; the Eswatini Observer (formerly Swazi Observer), indirectly owned by the king, while the Times of Swaziland is privately owned, but reported to be linked to the kingdom.

“The country has approximately 32 laws that are restrictive to the media, like the Swaziland Television Authority Act 1983, Proscribed Publications Act 1968, Obscene Publications Act 1927, Books and Newspaper Act 1963 which regulates the registration of newspapers, Official Secrets Act 1968, Cinematograph Act 1920, and the Sedition and Subversive Activities Act 1938, which provides for the suppression of sedition and seditious publications and criminalises criticising the king or any member of the royal family. “ The report stated.

In Malawi, 2019 was characterised by protests against the Electoral Commission for mismanaging the Presidential Elections. The Constitutional and Supreme Courts however recognised the importance of the media as an actor in the justice system, by allowing, for the first time, live coverage of the 2019 Presidential Elections petitions by mainstream national radio outlets.

There are however other loopholes in the Malawi’s media coverage as stated by MISA. Mozambique on the other hand experiences deterioration on the media fraternity.

“Malawi, however, still has laws like the Official Secrets Act (1913), the Printed Publications Act (1947) and the Censorship and Control of Entertainments Act (1968) as well as the Protected Flags, Emblems and Names Act, which have been used to hinder the work of journalists and to silence critics. In 2019, Bon Kalindo, a former Member of Parliament was arrested under the Protected Flags, Emblems and Names Act for allegedly insulting the then President, Peter Mutharika. In terms of plurality, it is reported that Malawi has about 90 media outlets.

“Mozambique has seen conflicts in the central and northern parts of the country, while the state of the media deteriorated due to arbitrary detentions, assaults, threats against journalists, and media break-ins, attributed to coverage of the conflict. Notably, two journalists Amade Abubacar and Germano Adriano were detained in January and February 2019 respectively for allegedly reporting on the conflict in Cabo Delgado province. Journalist Fernando Banze was charged and prosecuted for defaming the president for publishing a letter criticising the president. In April 2020, journalist Ibraimo Mbaruco disappeared and has not been seen since. His last text message to colleagues was that he had been surrounded by soldiers.” The report stated.

In Tanzania, free expression and media freedom have been on a decline as a result of the restrictive legal and policy framework.

“The enactment and implementation of several laws including the Media Services Act of 2016; Cyber Crimes Act and Statistics Act of 2015; and regulations such as the Electronic and Postal Communications Act’s online and offline regulations create unfavorable conditions for journalists and media to freely exercise their obligations. The media and journalists have been under constant attacks by powerful individuals and institutions because of their work. Suspension of newspapers; imposition of fines on radio and television stations; journalists’ arrest and arbitrary detention; closure of online media; and verbal and written warnings issued to media and journalists have characterized the industry. On 21 October 2020, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority issued a directive suspending bulk short messaging (SMS) and bulk voice calling services from 24 October to 11 November 2020, citing the “adverse” impact they might have on the general elections. Internet throttling and social media censorship in the run-up to the elections were reported.” The report revealed.

Namibia despite being praised for its progressive attitude towards upholding the rights to freedom of expression and media freedom, “This has put it at the fore in Africa’s rankings. Despite the state’s goodwill in guaranteeing these rights, residual restrictive laws inherited from the apartheid era are still in operation: the Official Secrets Act which gags the public from accessing information considered as secret by the state;” They said.

Zambia was not spared, “Zambia is, however, not devoid of media attacks. The law on defaming the president has been severally applied to gag the public from criticising the head of state. Martin Akende, the manager of Millennium radio station, was called to testify in a case of defamation of the President, following alleged defamatory remarks by a caller on one of the station’s programmes.

In February 2019, Frank Mwale, a Patriotic Front cadre attacked Grace Lungu, a Breeze FM journalist together with her driver during the Mkomba Ward by-election. In a positive outcome, the Lundazi Magistrate Court sentenced the perpetrator to two years in jail, as a deterrent to other perpetrators of political violence against journalists.” The report added.

Today marks 30 years of the Windhoek Declaration when journalists from across the African continent came together in Namibia and made a call for the respect of press freedom.

 

 

 

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Yeukai is a professional and experienced journalist, broadcaster & writer.

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