Mliswa's utterances against journalism backfires

Firebrand politician Temba Mliswa on Thursday threatened to move a motion in Parliament that criminilises what he termed fake news.

"If there is a time that I am going to move such a motion is now'.

Following these utterances the Young Journalists Association (YOJA) and the Media Institute for Sothern Africa (MISA) have both issued statements condemning such moves," said the outspoken legislator.

YOJA Secretary Philemon Jambaya urged Mliswa to reflect on his statements and retract them.

"We hope the Norton legislator will reflect on his statement and realise the retrogressive effects it has on democratisation process of our country", said Jambaya in a statement.

In another scathing statement MISA Zimbabwe said Mliswa's statement was unfortunate as it came at a time when government is forging ahead with the media policy and law reform process.

"Honourable Mliswa remarks are unfortunately discordant as they come at time when government is progressively forging ahead with the media policy and law reform processes in sync with the constitutional that provides for media reform", said MISA in a statement.

Zimbabwe is one country which was singled out by the USA as infringing media rights and Temba's utterances are nothing but a confirmation of the status quo.