Zinef, ZUJ support co-regulation
BUSINESS REPORTER
Two of Zimbabwe’s biggest media representative bodies have thrown their weight behind co-regulation of the industry but with agreed rules of the game.
Co-regulation is seen as a compromise and will replace self-regulation which the sector had wanted as the sole process.
Co-regulation entails the existence of statutory regulation on one hand and industry-driven on the other.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Harare yesterday the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (Zinef) said it supports co-regulation in which there is a clear regulatory body with “representatives of the media and agreed rules of the game”.
“If the proposed co-regulation does not recognise industry self-regulation, it will take us backwards. Failure to agree on these suggestions will create problems and force others to disengage which is not what we want,” Zinef coordinator Njabulo Ncube said.
He said the Media Practitioners Bill must facilitate better practice of journalism rather than dwell on “punitive actions against journalists”.
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) said it was under no confusion, throwing its weight behind co-regulation.
“It is a compromise worth our pursuit,” secretary general Perfect Hlongwane said.
He said co-regulation gives the sector power to be able to make inputs and allows the sector to play a major part in the broader regulation. Hlongwane said co-regulation creates a vibrant complaints mechanism and there will be responsiveness in terms of training of journalists.
Media lawyer Chris Mhike said co-regulation is a compromised position for those “steeped in jurisprudence of press freedom”.
He said the media industry must participate in the formulation of rules. Mhike said the compromised part of co-regulation was adopted by the government and there is a Cabinet resolution to that effect.
