(Last Updated on November 3, 2022 by ZIMDAILY EDITOR)
By Simba – Lyn Chidavaenzi
The media fraternity in Zimbabwe yesterday joined their counterparts worldwide in commemorating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
This year’s commemorations are being held under the theme, “Protecting Media to Protect Democracy.”
The Zimbabwe Online Content Creators (ZOCC) said this year’s commemorations came against the grim backdrop of the killing and abuse of journalists in the line of duty.
“As we commemorate this United Nations-sanctioned day, it is sad to note that between 2006 and 2020, over 1200 journalists have been killed for reporting the news and bringing information to the public,” said ZOCC in a statement.
ZOCC said it was worrisome that crimes against journalism were rampant in the country, with many criminal cases reported to no avail as very few have been resolved.
The watchdog called on government to ensure that the various state arms executed their constitutional mandate without interference.
According to the UNESCO observatory of killed journalists, in nine out of 10 reported cases, the perpetrators go unpunished, with impunity resulting in more killings.
Murder, assaults, harassment, intimidation, intolerance and barring or denying journalists access to information must be condemned, ZOCC said.
In August this year, journalism trainee Chelsea Mashayamombe, and journalists, Toneo Rutsito, Pelagia Mupurwa and Tongai Mwenje were heavily assaulted in Gokwe while travelling to cover the by-elections that were scheduled in the area, while another journalist, Godwin Mangudya was last month allegedly assaulted by suspected Intelligence officials and ruling ZANU PF activists in the Harare’s Kuwadzana suburb while covering the party’s central committee elections according to Voice of Zimbabwe.
In another recent case, NewsDay reported that Alpha Media Holdings journalists were chased out of a function at State House where President Mnangagwa was appointing a tribunal to look into Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission spokesperson John Makamure’s fitness to remain in office. Zimbabwe Daily contributors were recently caught in the crossfire after Zanu PF youths attacked three female journalists covering the story of the Nyatsime 16 relatives and spouses. in another unfortunate attack on media, Ruvimbo Muchenje was attacked during a CCC rally in Chinhoyi.
Concern has been raised that threats of violence and attacks against journalists create a climate of fear for media personnel, impeding the free flow of information, opinions and ideas for all citizens and directly threatens democracy.
In many cases, threats against journalists are casually dismissed with little or no investigation thereby emboldening the perpetrators of the crimes and impact negatively on society in general as well as the journalists themselves.
Journalists Blessed Mhlanga and Chengeto Chidi were arrested by police after they allegedly photographed officers attempting to detain an opposition lawmaker in Chitungwiza according to news reports and a statement by the Zimbabwean chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa.
The major political players have pledged to ensure a peaceful political environment and promised to protect both private and state media equally as they practice their journalistic constitutional rights during the 2023 electoral elections.
The constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees freedom of expression.
No journalist must be killed, injured or victimized while executing their constitutional obligation said ZOCC.