Zim Deputy Info Minister Wants Media Law Changes

Jameson Timba who is the Deputy Information Minsiter in the National Unity Government in Zimbabwe proposes changes to the media law. The reasons were based on the detention of two editors from the Zimbabwe Independent for publishing names of people who kidnapped members of the opposition.

At the same time, Ms. Irene Petras of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights declared as unjustifiable the arrests of the Zimbabwe Independent Editors. According to the IOL E Magazine, it appears that the ruling ZANU-PF are attempting to use the power sharing agreement to neutralize the opposition.

It is hoped that the media laws can be changed so that newspapers such as Zimbabwe Independent can continue their reporting and so that there could be an uncensored media in the country.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20090512151035754C337073

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/zim-deputy-info-minister-wants-media-law-changes

Zimbabwe Newspaper Editors Arrested

According to the E Magazine IOL, The Editor [Vincent Kahiya] and the News Editor [Constantine Chimakure] of the Zimbabwe Independent have been arrested under the accusation of spreading false stories.

Both were taken into custody according to their lawyer Innocent Chagonda under charhes related to publishing names of those who participated in the abduction of politicians that belonged to the opposition.

While there have been an agreement to share power and a spirit of reconciliation is supposed to permeate the air in Zimbabwe, it does not mean that the international community should ignore the plight of the Editors of the Zimbabwe Independent

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=nw20090511180712819C501949