OCTOBER 2022
Media and Freedom of expression
ZPP recorded 3 cases on violating the right to media and expression
perpetrated mainly by the ruling party. These cases were recorded within
Harare in Kuwadzana, Mbare and Harare Central constituencies. The violation
of the freedom of expression violates the rights of journalists to operate
freely and disseminate information. Hence the violation to expression and
freedom of media also infringes the right to access information as enshrined
in Section 62 of the constitution. The violation of freedom of the media
negatively affects journalistic practice.
The cases include the assault of journalist Godwin Mangudya by CIO
members and Zanu PF activists in Kuwadzana, Harare, while covering the
party’s central committee elections. On 10 October, two journalists from
Alpha Media Holdings’ HSTV were assaulted by the police in Mbare when
they witnessed and filmed the police assaulting vendors while dispersing
them. Newsday and TheNewsHawks journalists were also denied
accreditation to cover the Zanu PF 7th National Elective Congress convened
at the Harare International Conference Centre between 26 and 29 October.
The right to expression and media freedom remains essential under Section
61 of the Constitution. The right to freedom of expression is further
protected in article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR) which provides for the right of individuals to hold opinions
without interference and the right to freedom of expression which includes
freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds.
Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (African
Charter) protects the right to freedom of expression.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project
Monthly Monitoring Report
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