ZUJ hails ConCourt Criminal Defamation ruling

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has hailed the ruling by the Constitutional Court on Criminal Defamation.

The Constitutional Court, which deemed the piece of legislation as not a justifiable law in a democratic society such as Zimbabwe's, has ruled that the law must be struck of the statutes.

In a case where then The Standard newspaper editor Nevanji  Madanhire and  reporter, Nqaba Matshazi were arrested for allegedly defaming founder and chairman of the Green Card Medical Aid Society, Munyaradzi Kereke,  in November 2011, the Concourt, consisting of a full bench of eight judges las week ruled  that criminal defamation has no place in a democratic society.

"The Union commends the role played by Standard newspaper editor Nevanji Madanhire and reporter Nqaba Matshazi in challenging a law which went against the rights of journalists to disseminate information and that had for long interfered with the work of media practitioners in Zimbabwe," ZUJ secretary general Foster Dongozi said.

"The ruling by the constitutional court can be viewed as a step towards creating an environment where journalists are able to operate professionally and effectively without any hindrances.

"It is a great day for Journalism and Press Freedom in which there is now recognition that a simple dispute is not solved using police and other tools to harass journalists but through civilised routes such as the civil one."