The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, ZU), strongly condemns threats by Norton MP Temba Mliswa to use
his parliamentarian priviledge to lobby for tighter controls on journalistic practice.
Speaking recently at a Press Conference following various social media reports about his private life
after alleged fallout with enstranged lover Susan Mutami, Hon. Mliswa threatened to move a motion in
Parliament for the amendment of laws to further curtail the operations of the media.
Said Hon. Mliswa: “There must be a price journalists must pay for being unethical..f a man who steals
cattle is given nine years, there must also be a law that if a journalist is not factual, it must be five years.
Ironically, Hon. Mliswa’ utterances come even as government acknowledges the country’s hostile media environment, which it is trying to fine-tune – in consultation with stakeholders- so that it is in sync with
the Constitution and regional and international principles.
Against this background, ZUJ views Hon. Mliswa’s utterances as unhelpful in the fight for these media
reforms, which are key to a just and democratic society as underpinned by Press freedom and freedom
of expression:
The Union therefore urges leaders to always strive to rise above narrow pursuits and instead use the
power of their offices to good use by championing the overall sanctity of the tenets of the constitution
for the general good of the country.
In any case, there already exist complaint mechanisms to deal with justified concerns of journalistic
failings in a reasonable and autonomous way, which are designed to increase media accountability and
the audiences’ interaction with the media.
The Union is happy to learn that Hon. Mliswa has since approached one, the Voluntary Media Council of
Zimbabwe (VMCZ), for redress.
