Zimbabwe media crack down may silence the voice of the voiceless

 The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has announced an enforced regulation of newspapers. The step raises fears of renewed repressions on the countries media landscape, as especially independent newspapers from abroad could face a total ban in distribution.

According to Africa Review, the possible ban mainly would mainly aim at the weekly newspaper The Zimbabwean, which was founded by exiled Zimbabwean journalists in London. The paper is delivered to Zimbabwe through neighbouring South Africa. Since the 2002 ban of private newspapers printed in Zimbabwe, The Zimbabwean together with a small number of magazines from South Africa has quite successfully filled the gap in Zimbabwe’s media landscape.

Although after the coalition building in 2009 the Zimbabwean press enjoys some more freedom from oppresive state control, foreign formats can be regarded as the main source for independent journalism.

In 2009 The Zimbabwean still ran a big campaign – in South Africa, promoting freedom of speech and the press in Zimbabwe according to its slogan ‘A Voice for the Voiceless’.

More on the press in Zimbabwe:

Africa Review: Zimbabwe to ban foreign papers

eufrika.org: Malawian and Zimbabwean newspapers for a free and independent press in Southern Africa

eufrika.org: Pressefreiheit in Simbabwe – Daily News darf wieder drucken