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By Martin Muleya


An official in the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has raised concern over the accessibility of valuable information to the public citing that local daily newspapers were selling their papers at a much higher price not affordable to most ordinary Zimbabweans.

Addressing journalists at a one day consultative meeting organized by Media Institute of southern Africa (MISA) in Mutare, ZMC Commissioner Chris Mhike said most Zimbabweans were denied the right to access of valuable information by the fourth estate because the latter was selling its product at a much higher price for ordinary lay man in the street.

“As with the current situation most people are failing to access information yet the media plays that role of information gathering and dissemination. It is disheartening to note that this is because our newspapers are being sold at a much high price. A daily newspaper cost $1 yet most ordinary Zimbabweans earn figure that is below $400. Thus most people cannot afford to buy newspapers everyday to access information which is their right,” said Mhike.

Commissioner Mhike noted that his organization was happy with the scaling down of frequent arrests of scribes adding that although this was a positive move towards media freedom, there was also need to amend or repeal the Access to Information, Protection and Privacy Act.

He said the Act has the opposite effect of what it claims to grant as it perpetuates a culture of secrecy in respect of government business, but however underscored the need for journalists to read the code of conduct in their various media organizations as this would encourage self regulation amongst themselves.

“ZMC expresses complacency at the decline of frequent arrests of journalists by police. But however there is still need to amend or repeal AIPPA as the statutory instrument allows for longer periods of withholding of information whereas the media depends on the freshness of the information for its business.

The Act also perpetuates a culture of secrecy in respect of government business, with other provisions that make an ineffective appeal procedure where access of information is denied and in the end the Act ultimately has the opposite effect of what it claims to grant,” noted Comm Mhike.

Comm Mhike as a media regulation body they were looking forward to discuss some their concerns with the Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Cde Jonathan Moyo to ensure that most of the concerns raised by the 85 registered media houses in the country were dealt with.

The consultative meeting was held under the theme “Media law and Policy Regulation in Zimbabwe” and attended by journalists around the country.

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