From: as on
Tomana to draft media regulations

http://www.zimeye.org/?p=16127

By: John Chimunhu Posted: Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Harare - Discredited Attorney-General Johannes Tomana has been handed
the task of drafting regulations that will be used by the Zimbabwe
Media Commission (ZMC) to licence newspapers, ZimEye has learnt.

The move has sparked outrage among media players who fear that
Tomana, who has been accused of being biased in favour of President
Robert Mugabe, may use his influence to block or delay registration
of media houses seen as critical of Zanu (PF).

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists Secretary-General, Foster Dongozi
confirmed the development. He said there were widespread fears that
the delays in setting up the Media Commission could be a result of
dilly-dallying by Tomana. "A few weeks ago, the President met
journalists and was wondering why the Media Commission wasn't
working. The Commission has now been told that it has to consult the
AG but the AG is the subject of discussion because Zanu (PF) says he
is the right candidate while the MDC says he should go. There is a
serious problem there because the Commission is supposed to licence
new newspapers. I don't know if this is deliberate obfuscation to
frustrate media reforms," Dongozi said. The ZMC held its first
meeting on March 18 where commissioners discussed the budget. After
the meeting, chairperson Godfrey Majonga told the media that the
actual business of licensing newspapers might take some time as the
budget had to be approved through the normal, lengthy government
process before the commission could set up a secretariat and start
its work. Getting the $47 000 budget authorized could take several
months, according to sources, who said the parent Ministry of Media
Information and Publicity was severely underfunded. The Ministry only
received $2 million in the current budget, which officials said fell
far short of requirements. International journalists meeting here
last month expressed dismay at the slow pace of media reforms in the
country. International Federation of Journalists President Jim
Boumelha said: "We are very much aware of the flourish of
announcements made by the government. We are still waiting for the
ZMC to start its work. Here in Zimbabwe (the government) continues to
deny journalists their freedom."

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said he prefers media
self-regulation as opposed to state regulation.

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