Govt has to open up media space: Misa

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Sadc should nudge the Zimbabwean government to open up media space than directing its energies at calling for the closure of exiled Zimbabwe radio stations.

THE SOUTHERN African Development Community (Sadc) should nudge the Zimbabwean government to open up media space than directing its energies at calling for the closure of exiled Zimbabwe radio stations, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa-Zimbabwe) has said.

NQOBANI NDLOVU

Bernard Membe, the head of the Sadc Election Observer Mission on Monday — in a final election report of the July 31 elections — said stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe should cease operations immediately.

“We certainly disagree with the understanding of these foreign-based radio stations that they are pirate,” he said.

“They are not criminal. They are operating legally wherever they are based and their operations are registered.

“What Sadc should be concerned about is the opening up of the broadcasting space to other private players,” Nhlanhla Ngwenya, the Misa-Zimbabwe director told Southern Eye in an interview.

At least four Zimbabwe radio stations are based outside the country, among them the United Kingdom-based Short Wave Radio Africa, Radio VOP, US-based Studio 7 and recently First TV based in neighbouring South Africa.

While the print media has witnessed the emergence of new private newspapers, the State still maintains a tight grip over the broadcasting space.

Notably, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has two television channels and four radio stations.

The State-owned ZBC faces criticism of bias towards Zanu PF, with the MDC parties saying this forms the basis for their calls for media reforms.

Ngwenya said Sadc should push the government to abandon restrictive media laws used to deny other private players licences to broadcast locally.

“What Sadc is talking about are the symptoms of a fundamental problem,” he said. “The broadcasting sector is governed by restrictive laws.

“Sadc should not address the symptoms, but the problems of the legal framework governing broadcasting.”

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, secretary general Foster Dongozi said the issue of media reforms and exiled foreign radio stations should have been dealt with during the lifespan of the inclusive government in line with the power-sharing agreement. “This is a remnant from the Global Political Agreement,” he added.

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