TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has strongly condemned the appalling attack on journalists carrying out their duties.
Speaking at a training workshop for journalists in Bulawayo last week, ZMC executive secretary Godwin Phiri, said operating, as a journalist in Zimbabwe was not a crime “so we can’t put a law on that”
“As the ZMC we do not condone the abuse of journalists or their arrests. It’s unacceptable for political players at whatever level to harass journalists,” Phiri said.
He said the commission was going to make sure journalists were safe when carrying out their duties and would engage the political parties to allow journalists to do their work.
“It is their right and it’s in the constitution,” Phiri said.
He, however, urged journalists not to misuse the journalism title in committing crimes.
“(However) this is not a licence for you to commit other crimes and hide behind being a journalist. We have talked to the senior levels of the police and they understand that when that happens we can contact each other to see what should be done.
“But as I said, please do not hide behind being a journalist. You can’t be arrested at a shebeen and say I was wearing a press jacket and I am at work,” said Phiri.
He said journalists should conduct themselves professionally in the build-up and during elections by coming up with objective news stories that contributes to nation building
He added: “Let us, as the media, give Zimbabweans a chance to choose their representatives fairly without influencing them through unfair, false, inaccurate and hateful articles.”
The ZMC has written a manual meant to equip journalists and media organisations with the necessary knowledge and skills to create a conducive environment for free, fair and credible elections.
