Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai says "No" to media control by the government

The government should not control the media, Zimbabwean Prime Minister (PM) Morgan Tsvangirai has said, adding that the media should regulate itself the same way other professions do.

"I do not support the argument that due to the potential power of the media, the state has an obligation to ensure it is properly regulated, " Tsvangirai said, while addressing guests at a ceremony on Wednesday night to launch a report on the public broadcast media in Zimbabwe.

He said: "I do not believe in regulation of the media, instead, I am a strong proponent of the view that due to its very power and inalienable right of freedom of information, freedom of expression, the state should play no role in its regulations. Instead the media, like many other professions, should operate largely on the basis of self regulation."

Tsvangirai, who continues to be mocked and attacked by state-owned newspapers and television even after his appointment as Prime Minister, said he had reached agreement with President Robert Mugabe on a new commission that is expected to lead media reforms in the country.

But the PM did not say when the commission will be announced by Mugabe only saying the government was close to announcing the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) that will replace the old Media and Information Commission that was run by Mugabe loyalist and is infamous for ordering the closure of several independent newspapers.

“The two of us met and agreed on the composition of the ZMC and I am confident that it will turn out to be a fair, representative and progressive group of people that are determined to put the best interests of our nation and its people above all other considerations.”

The ZMC is part of several commissions to be formed by Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government as part of a raft of reforms meant to reshape and democratise Zimbabwe’s politics.

The other commissions provided for under Constitutional Amendment Number 19 that established the power-sharing government are the Independent Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (IZEC), Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC).

Once the commissions and a new constitution are in place the government will call fresh elections with the whole process that began in February expected to last between 18 to 24 months.

- November 20, 2009 by Simplicious Chirinda

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Source: www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx (Accessed on 22.11.2009)