VMCZ statement on alleged ban of the Daily News and threats against NewsDay

Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) statement on alleged ban of the Daily News and threats against NewsDay.

The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) condemns in the strongest terms alleged threats by war veterans against NewsDay and the alleged banning of the Daily News from circulating in Mutoko and Murehwa in Mashonaland  East province.

A news report carried by the Daily News in its front-page story of 8 March 2012, says the ban was allegedly being effected by Zanu PF supporters. The Zanu PF supporters are allegedly threatening those reading the privately owned paper while forcing people to read state-owned newspapers.

NewsDay in its edition of 8 March 2012, also carried a story where they allege that Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association leaders have threatened to shut down NewsDay unless the paper disclosed who leaked the story alleging ex-combatants had attempted to dig up the remains of Cecil John Rhodes from Matobo Hills.

This was after NewsDay carried a story, last month, where a local chief had reportedly blocked a group of about 50 ex-Zanla fighters from exhuming Rhodes remains from the national tourists' attraction.

In the case of the Daily News the paper also alleges that its newspaper were torn in Kadoma by  "identified Zanu PF supporters" after they accused a vendor of selling the newspaper close to a shop owned by a Zanu PF  official.  There are also alleged threats by war veterans and the barbaric actions by alleged war veterans in Mutoko and Mudzi against the Daily News.

VMCZ implores  those that are threatening NewsDay and banning the Daily News from circulating in Mutoko and Murehwa to desist and refrain from engaging in threatening behaviour against the media. Further to this, VMCZ calls on the police and the Ministry of Information to thouroughly investigate as well as speak out publicly  against such unwarranted threats  to the media.

All political parties in the country must also inform their supporters to desist from issuing threats and attacking journalists or seeking to 'ban' newspapers. Such behaviour, which appears to have increasinginly become an unfortunate habit,  infringes on freedom of expression and denies Zimbabweans the right to receive and impart information.

Section 20 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe recognises the importance of the right to freedom of expression, a right which allows the media to operate and publish in any part of Zimbabwe. It is therefore imperative that all media publishing houses and their media products as well as personnel be allowed to continue their professional duties without any undue or politicised hindrance.