News / National
Trevor Ncube wins MISA 2012 press freedom award
07 May 2012 at 00:41hrs | Views
Trevor Ncube was on Friday evening crowned Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) 2012 inaugural winner of the press freedom award during a colourful justice John Oliver Manyarara Memorial Lecture held at a local hotel .
The lecture which was part of MISA's World Press Freedom commemorations to honour the late Justice Manyarara, a champion and studious advocate of media freedom and civil liberties also coincided with MISA's 20th anniversary.
Ncube, the publisher of Newsday, The Standard and the Zimbabwe Independent beat other five nominees to scoop the coveted award.
The other nominees of the award were media activist, Takura Zhangazha, Studio 7, veteran broadcaster Mavis Moyo and Radio Dialogue founder, Father Nigel Johnson.
Speaking at the commemoration, former High Court judge and Justice Manyarara's former workmate, Justice Siwanda Kenneth Sibanda said the late Manyarara who died in Namibia in 2010 was a great man who had left indelible marks in the region's fight for justice and human rights.
"What makes this day even more important in celebrating the life of this giant in the regional justice delivery system is that it comes just a day after the world commemorated press Freedom Day.
"His stubborn fight for justice and protection of fundamental freedoms contributed in the adoption of explicit constitutional guarantees for a free Press and access to information in the region Sadly , his own home country is still to provide a constitutional shield to protect the full enjoyment of these basic liberties," said Justice Sibanda.
Justice said that its regrettably that as MISA commemorate the life of Justice Manyarara, there have been threats to corrode the very pillars of freedom that the late judge embraced.
"Not only have we witnessed the plantation of legislative landmines that impede on the full exercise of citizens' freedoms in this country, but we have also been alarmed by levels of regression in countries that we viewed as our legislative role models," he said.
He said that it is sad that South Africa, regarded as a model in the promotion of freedom of expression is reportedly mooting instruments to control the free flow of information.
The Memorial lecture was attended by lawyers, journalists, political parties and representatives of the Manyarara family.
The lecture which was part of MISA's World Press Freedom commemorations to honour the late Justice Manyarara, a champion and studious advocate of media freedom and civil liberties also coincided with MISA's 20th anniversary.
Ncube, the publisher of Newsday, The Standard and the Zimbabwe Independent beat other five nominees to scoop the coveted award.
The other nominees of the award were media activist, Takura Zhangazha, Studio 7, veteran broadcaster Mavis Moyo and Radio Dialogue founder, Father Nigel Johnson.
Speaking at the commemoration, former High Court judge and Justice Manyarara's former workmate, Justice Siwanda Kenneth Sibanda said the late Manyarara who died in Namibia in 2010 was a great man who had left indelible marks in the region's fight for justice and human rights.
"What makes this day even more important in celebrating the life of this giant in the regional justice delivery system is that it comes just a day after the world commemorated press Freedom Day.
"His stubborn fight for justice and protection of fundamental freedoms contributed in the adoption of explicit constitutional guarantees for a free Press and access to information in the region Sadly , his own home country is still to provide a constitutional shield to protect the full enjoyment of these basic liberties," said Justice Sibanda.
Justice said that its regrettably that as MISA commemorate the life of Justice Manyarara, there have been threats to corrode the very pillars of freedom that the late judge embraced.
"Not only have we witnessed the plantation of legislative landmines that impede on the full exercise of citizens' freedoms in this country, but we have also been alarmed by levels of regression in countries that we viewed as our legislative role models," he said.
He said that it is sad that South Africa, regarded as a model in the promotion of freedom of expression is reportedly mooting instruments to control the free flow of information.
The Memorial lecture was attended by lawyers, journalists, political parties and representatives of the Manyarara family.
Source - RadioVOP