World

Zimbabwe Gov't Takes Aim At Press

January 31, 2002 / 4:31 PM EST / AP

Parliament in Zimbabwe passed new laws Thursday imposing sweeping media restrictions that critics say is aimed at silencing journalists ahead of March presidential elections.

The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill was passed without a vote being called in the 150-seat Parliament, where ruling party members outnumbered opposition lawmakers.

The Parliament speaker announced debate on the bill was concluded, and when the opposition did not ask for a vote, the legislation was declared passed by assent. Parliament then adjourned until May 26.

The bill is part of a series of government measures intended to stifle dissent ahead of presidential elections scheduled for March 9-10. President Robert Mugabe, 77, is fighting for political survival after holding power since independence in 1980.

He is being challenged by Morgan Tsvangirai, 49, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, whose party narrowly lost parliamentary elections last year.

The legislation gives the government and the information minister broad powers to license journalists, register media organizations under strict terms laid down by the state and impose severe penalties for infringements.

The bill sets up a state-appointed media commission with disciplinary powers to withdraw licenses, confiscate equipment and draw up charges against journalists with a penalty of up to two years in jail.

The bill also bans foreign reporters from staffing international media offices in Zimbabwe, which would have to be run by Zimbabwean citizens or immigrants with permanent residence status.

It allows foreign journalists to visit Zimbabwe for limited periods of assignment only with clearance from Zimbabwe embassies and missions in their home countries.

The measures must still be signed into law by Mugabe.

The main opposition has accused the government of including the media curbs in a package of repressive laws to muzzle criticism ahead of the March polls.

Welshman Ncube, opposition secretary general, said two series of amendments to the original proposed legislation watered down its terms.

"But freedom of expression is still being limited," he said. "If we had our way, we should not have any regulations at all, but once you don't have a majority in parliament you have to go with what you have."

Prominent ruling party lawmaker Eddison Zvobgo, head of parliament's legal committee, on Tuesday described the media curbs as "the most calculated and determined assault" on the nation's constitutional rights to free expression since independence from colonial rule in 1980.

Riot police arrested three journalists protesting the laws outside the Zimbabwe parliament Wednesday.

They were released and no charges were filed against them. Police said they were arrested under the new Public Order and Security Act that became law Jan. 18 and gives police sweeping powers of search and arrest.

Zvobgo said Tuesday at least 20 clauses of the legisation breached three major sections of the constitution. But revisions drafted Wednesday were not rejected by his legal committee.

Zimbabwe has come under intense international pressure to restore the rule of law after nearly two years of violent seizures of white-owned farms and to ensure free and fair presidential elections.

The European Union and the United States are proposing targeted sanctions against government leaders.