Zimbabwe delays newspapers' registration

6 May 2010

Media activists in Zimbabwe have criticised the government for delaying the registration of new newspapers and failing to implement media reforms. A coalition of rights lobby groups and media organisations marched in Harare on Monday (3 May 2010) to mark World Press Freedom Day and demand that reforms be accelerated.

The Zimbabwean media operates under strict government control and many foreign journalists have been banned. The country's last independent newspaper was closed in 2003 for allegedly criticising the government. Earlier this year the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) was created to drive media reforms, but local journalists claim no new licenses have been granted so far.

ZMC chairman Godfrey Majonga said applications for new licences will start being processed this week.

Source: Panos London

Panos London promotes the participation of poor and marginalised people in national and international development debates through media and communication projects. It is part of the worldwide Panos Network of independent institutes working to ensure that information is used more effectively to foster debate, pluralism and democracy.

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