Govt consults on media law amendments

1 May 2014

Government is consulting stakeholders on amendments to the criminal defamation law and statutes restricting the practice of journalism by causing the arrest of scribes.

Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net

This was revealed by Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Cde Supa Mandiwanzira at a workshop organised by the Media Institute of Southern Africa ahead of World Press Freedom Day in Harare on 29 April 2014..

"Professor Jonathan Moyo has been very clear and the ministry has been very clear on its sentiments with regards to this law vis-a-vis our new Constitution," he said.

"That we continue to have criminal defamation and journalists still being arrested is a result of our structural circumstances. For as long as the law is in place despite our sentiments as the ministry that superintends over the media which are most affected by this law, we have to also acknowledge that the law is still within our books and that Parliament has not done anything yet to adjust that law."

Deputy Minister Mandiwanzira said the situation needed to be addressed urgently.

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Source: allAfrica

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