Mugabe is gone but Zimbabwe press is still not safe, diverse nor secure

Media experts in Zimbabwe have decried the limited pluralism and diversity in the country’s media sector.

Methu Moyo, a former station manager of the state-owned broadcast media, and a lecturer of journalism at National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo, said in an interview that even after the departure of President Robert Mugabe, everything about press freedom has remained the same in Zimbabwe. He said that journalists continue to get arrested, tortured and harassed despite the reforms that have been called for to help in protesting abuse of journalists.

Press Freedom Under Threat in Kenya’s 2022 Presidential Elections

The presidential candidates in 2022 Kenyan presidential elections (L-R): David Mwaure Waihiga, Raila Odinga, William Ruto and Prof. George Wajackoyah. Photo by GETTY IMAGES

Threats against journalists surfaced in the Kenyan presidential elections of 2022 despite strides the media had made to cover them in an objective, balanced and fair manner.

The electoral process was associated with various threats to press freedom. The presidential candidates included David Mwaure Waihiga of Agano Party, Prof. George Wajackoyah of the Roots Party, Raila Odinga of the Azimio coalition, and the eventual winner, William Ruto, of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Peace reporting denies Rwandan citizens accountability from government officials

During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, some of the media betrayed its people. Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines and the Kangura magazine both sponsored or run by hard-line Hutu party officials were at the forefront of hate media. Later, Rwanda’s media took to peace reporting in order to help the people unite and heal from the 1994 genocide effects. However, this seems to have had negative consequences for press freedom and freedom of expression as well as holding public officials accountable.

 

Germany Registers Increased Social Inclusiveness in Media

Germany has registered an increase in the inclusiveness of minority groups such as People with Disabilities (PWDs) and the Moslem community. This growth is as a result of a 2016 survey carried out by Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM) that found that almost 88% of minority groups were not guaranteed access to airtime and there was no policy safeguard for such communities, except indigenous inhabitant minorities like the Sorbs, Danes and Romani people.

Network and Enforcement Act threatens freedom of the press in Germany

Journalists in Germany are under threat by the Network and Enforcement Act that limits free social media expression.

In Germany, Freedom of the press and expression is guaranteed and protected by the constitution. Article 5 of the Basic Law, states that “Every person shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing, and pictures, and to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible sources. There shall be no censorship.”

Journalists in Burundi threatened by state violence

Journalists in Burundi are still faced with violence meted upon them by the state despite the change of government in 2020. Over the years, freedom of expression and the media has been restricted even to those who ought to practice it for the benefit of the people of Burundi. Burundi has faced a number of political challenges since it attained its independence in 1962.

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