30th May 2025
Cloaked in colourful language and lofty rhetoric, the policy might appear progressive at first glance. But a closer, more critical examination reveals a different reality.
To the discerning citizen, this policy is yet another
addition to the regime’s ever-expanding arsenal of repressive tools. Far from
promoting transparency or freedom of expression, it resurrects the spirit of
the long-repealed Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
It now joins the ranks of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA), the
Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Act, the Criminal Law (Codification and
Reform) Amendment Act of 2023—infamously dubbed the “Patriotic Act”—and the
Cyber and Data Protection Act. Collectively, these laws constitute a systematic
erosion of Zimbabwe’s democratic space.
The Zimbabwe Media Policy is a framework designed to curtail
free speech and media independence. It grants the state sweeping powers—not
only over traditional media but also over social media—thus extending its
surveillance and control into the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
Central to this policy is a requirement for licensing under
a centralised, government-controlled system. In the hands of a dictator, such a
mechanism becomes a potent weapon. Media outlets and journalists operate at the
mercy of the state. Those who refuse to conform, or who dare to expose
corruption and abuses of power, face harsh reprisals.
Journalists are particularly vulnerable. Recent pre-trial
detention cases—such as that of Blessing Mhlanga and, before him, Hopewell
Chin’ono—demonstrate the real consequences of exposing the corruption and
shenanigans of the ruling elite, as well as speaking truth to power. Under this
policy, reporters who shine a light on government failures or corruption risk
imprisonment.
Foreign journalists are also targeted. They must obtain
security clearance from the intelligence services, pay hefty fees, and
surrender copies of any documentaries produced during their stay in Zimbabwe.
This not only discourages external scrutiny but also tightens the regime’s grip
on its international image.
Clause 4.8 (Page 31) of the policy outlines a chilling array
of penalties: loss of licenses or accreditation, forced content removal or
blocking, mandatory apologies and corrections, disqualification from media
awards, and potential legal action.
Big Brother is not just watching us —he is silencing us.
About the author
Panyika Anselm Karimanzira is a Zimbabwean human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. He is a board member of and spokesperson for Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. He can be contacted by email at anselm.karimanzira@yahoo.ie OR panyika.karimanzira@rohr-zimbabwe.org
