We note with great regret and trepidation the message tweeted by the presidential deputy chief secretary , cde George Charamba, as he openly threatened journalists with jail term for propagating the Aljazeera documentary message on gold smuggling in Zimbabwe.
We have already respectfully engaged cde George Charamba over the message to air our concern and invited him to a twitter space dialogue, to clarify his position, an invite he unfortunately turned down.
Using his pseudo twitter account @Tinoedzazvimwe1, Charamba stated that
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FRIENDLY ADVICE TO ALL RECKLESS JOURNALISTS: Al-Jazeera is not a court of law before whose claims impart privileges to defamatory utterances. It is merely some weaponised channel.
If you are reckless enough to repeat what its phoney documentary defamatorily says, hoping to plead:
“I heard/saw it on Al Jazeera”, you will be sorry for yourself. Do not for once think there is no grit to act against reckless, defamatory and politically motivated journalism. Faceless Twitter names egging you on will not be a factor when brickbats come. Be warned.
The tweet was crafted to instil fear and discourage media practitioners from propagating or discussing the findings and allegations on mass corruption, gold smuggling and money laundering in Zimbabwe. He went on label local media outlet News Hawks a “Soros Outfit! huge mistake you were allowed to be here”
This message is in violation with the nation’s aspiration and beliefs on free media and access to information as enshrined in the constitution.
WHEREAS section 61 of the Constitution provides as follows— Freedom of expression and freedom of the media (1) Every person has the right to freedom of expression, which includes— (a) freedom to seek, receive and communicate ideas and other information; (2) Every person is entitled to freedom of the media, which freedom includes protection of the confidentiality of journalists’sources of information.
We strongly feel that Cde Charamba’s message impinges and shrinks the rights of online content creators and practising journalists across the nation and must thdrefore be pushed back as it is in violation of the constitution.
Charamba’s threats against journalists for merely reporting on an investigation by an international media channel, Al Jazeera, are gratuitous, needless and unwarranted.
A free press is a cornerstone of democracy.
As a result, threats against journalists naturally become a danger to rights of citizens. That’s why such threats are counterproductive and must be resisted by all.
We are however encouraged by Charamba’s willingness to engage, as he invited us to his office, to discuss the matter instead of the preferred twitter space.
As various media players we hope to honestly engage in a transparent manner and continue to practise in a professional, credible and ethical manner acceptable to media standards .
For and on behalf of Zimbabwe Online Content Creators.
President
