USA names Zimbabwe an unsafe journalistic freedom environment
The United States of America Senators have mentioned Zimbabwe as a culprit when it comes to respecting journalism freedom. This was mentioned during the introduction of The Global Freedom Bill.
The Bill seeks to promote press freedom, protect journalists and inter alia hold accountable governments that violate press freedom.
According to the Bill, countries with poor respect to journalism freedom are those that have attained journalists for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic. These include China, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Mali, Belarus, Iran, Congo etc. It is also reported that 74 per cent of the countries in the world have bad journalistic environments.
The Bill reads,
“Around the world, 2019 marked the fourth consecutive year in which 300 or more journalists were jailed l. The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated state censorship, harassment and violence in both authoritarian and democratic states. Out of the journalists jailed nearly all were local journalists covering events in their own countries. In 2020 at least 32 journalists were killed in the line of duty. ”
” The Bill is to promote free and open press worldwide, condemn violations of and attacks on press freedoms. It is also in place to hold accountable those governments that violate and attack press freedoms. Freedom of the press is a fundamental civil, political and human right that is foundational in a democratic system. “
USA names Zimbabwe an unsafe journalistic freedom environment
In Zimbabwe we have seen Hopewell Chin’ono being arrested for the 3rd time in 6 months. Recently in a January 2021, he was at Chikurubi Maximum prison for posting a video on social media of a police officer being harassed for killing a baby. Job Sikhala and Fadzayi Mahere were also arrested along with Hopewell Chin’ono for similar charges.
Recently Hopewell has been trending for his #Demloot song which has seen media houses from all over the continent hyping him up. Twitter society from all over the globe have been following the journalist because of his reggae song.
Godfrey Mtimba a freelance journalist from Masvingo was also arrested in July 2020. In June of 2020 two journalists were also arrested for violating COVID-19 lock down regulations.