The ZIMBABWE Situation | Our
thoughts and prayers are with Zimbabwe - may peace, truth and justice prevail. |
Independent journalists in Zimbabwe are in a precarious position as the end of the year approaches.
They have been working under draconian legislation that was introduced at the start of what has been a tense and dangerous 2001.
They have been required by law to register themselves with the government by the end of December if they are to be allowed to practise journalism in Zimbabwe next year.
The legislation holds that journalists publishing falsehoods or undermining the credibility of President Robert Mugabe can be heavily fined or liable to a two-year prison sentence.
In addition, the law requires independent journalists to register with a special government commission.
Delays
So far journalists in the country have been allowed to continue to practise pending the approval of their request for registration but that grace period is expected to expire at the end of this month
|
If journalists are not registered on time, they will be legally obliged to stop work and the entire future of independent journalism in Zimbabwe will be in jeopardy.
Already a number of foreign media organisations, including the BBC, have been banned from the country.
The media bill is being challenged in court by a group of independent journalists, but there is no guarantee that this will change anything.
Zimbabwe this year has degenerated into a desperate state where huge sections of the population face severe food shortages and where political criticism is suppressed.
President Mugabe has cracked down on the media because he believes that a foreign conspiracy is to blame for his country's woes.
The paper, which is believed to have the highest readership in Zimbabwe, has failed to appear for 10 consecutive days.
The editor, Geoff Nyarota, said he was standing down in the interests of the newspaper he helped to found in 1999, but he gave no specific reason for his decision.
The Daily News has been a strong critic of President Robert Mugabe's government.
Mr Nyarota has been arrested several times and has won numerous awards for journalism and press freedom.
"It was not an easy decision. It breaks my heart," he said.
The resignation comes at a precarious position for independent journalists in Zimbabwe with a registration deadline looming.
Deadline fears
They are required by law to register themselves with the government by the end of December if they are to be allowed to practise journalism in Zimbabwe next year.
|
They have already been working under draconian legislation introduced at the start of the year which holds that journalists publishing falsehoods or undermining the credibility of President Mugabe can be heavily fined or liable to a two-year prison sentence. So far journalists have been allowed to continue to practise pending the approval of their request for registration but that grace period is expected to expire at the end of this month
The registration process has also been plagued by delays.
The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent says that if journalists are not registered on time, they will be legally obliged to stop work and the entire future of independent journalism in Zimbabwe could be in jeopardy.
Already a number of foreign media organisations, including the BBC, have been banned from the country