Zimbabwe has been moving closer towards changing media laws as part of wider structural reform in country.
How are Laws Changed?
A bill (proposed legislation under consideration) does not come into law until it is passed. Three bills are set to replace the existing Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) once confirmed by parliament.
The Freedom of Information Bill will seek to be in line with international media freedom standards. It will ensure that every person has the right to freedom of expression and information at any time. It may also mean that foreign reporters are no longer banned from working in Zimbabwe full time.
Importantly, all state-owned media must be impartial and free to determine independently the content of their broadcasts. Therefore, state media interference will be kept minimal and neutral. The further two bills include the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill and the Protection of Personal Information Bill.
What will the impact be?
This change in media law is also in line with the reconsideration of the Public Order and Security Act which is used by security agencies to prohibit anti-government protests and arrest pro-opposition activists. All of these legal changes are aimed at ensuring a better relationship between state and citizens and to increase democracy. These changes have occurred through President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desire for the US to lift sanctions which were imposed during Mugabe’s rule due to violations of human rights and democracy.
Great progress has been made as The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting finalised the repeal of some of the previous media laws.
The political reforms and improved transparency of government in Zimbabwe may also be a step closer towards securing greater foreign direct investment into the country. The reforms are likely to increase trust, not just between state and citizen, but also with investors. This is true for Zimbabwe’s relationship to securing funding from global lenders such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund too. This change in view of Zimbabwe as a country where its leaders engaged with corruption towards a greater transparency in government and how it organises society is a positive transition as part of Zimbabwe’s development plan.
