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Lead Efforts for 'Fresh Start' to Zimbabwe Crisis-IFJ

                                                       Staff Reporter

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called Zimbabwean media to adopt new strategies to remove harsh media laws that have been used to intimidate and stifle independent journalism Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists in Harare on Thursday, IFJ secretary general Aidan White said government has indicated its willingness to have a full review of the extensive legal regulations that have been put in place over the past five years.

Aidan who was on a three-day visit to Zimbabwe said: "It's time for an alternative strategy that will stop the destructive political manipulation of media and allow journalists to do their work free of corruption and intimidation. The media community should prepare a detailed critique of media laws and regulations, how they are misused and what is needed in their place."

He added that the process should have input from all stakeholders including media advocacy groups and should encourage a new approach that will help journalists shake off the dead hand of political influence.

The country's economic crisis has created a catastrophic situation for journalists where people are in abject poverty with wages that hardly pay for the bus fare to work and this has inevitably affected the quality of journalism at all levels.

Aiden said government and opposition parties had a responsibility to avoid tinkering with existing laws and to create a radical new framework for media based upon international norms of journalism and free expression.

"There needs to be a credible form of self-regulation, a new legal framework that encourages the free flow of information, and a strategy to help media overcome the impact of disastrous economic conditions," he said.

Zimbabwe's media laws are part of the current power sharing talks being held between the country's political parties, but it remains to be seen if the leadership are fully committed to self-regulation of the journalism fraternity.

"We need to hear the authentic voice of Zimbabwe journalism speaking out in a new spirit of unity and professionalism," White said.

The IFJ has rejected government criticism of international media as being "politically engaged" in covering Zimbabwe, but has urged the media inside and outside the country to guard against exaggerating or downplaying the country's crisis.

"It's time for all of us to report what is happening accurately and in context. It's what media do best, but they can only do that when they are free from threats and intimidation." White said.

Aiden met with various groups including government, labour and civic organizations.

Zimbabwe's media crisis will be on the agenda when the IFJ regional group the Federation of African Journalists meets in Nairobi in November.