Government denies intimidating journalists

The Zimbabwean government has denied allegations that it has intimidated journalists, news reports said on Monday. An international coordinating committee of press freedom organisations visited Zimbabwe last week and called on the government to uphold the rule of law, ensure the safety of journalists, investigate abuses of press freedom and end its campaign of intimidation.

Information minister Jonathan Moyo was quoted as saying: “At no time did we threaten journalists with violence. It is preposterous. We are a responsible government and we understand fully what our responsibility is not only to journalists, but to everyone who ... is entitled to protection by the law.” David Dadge of the Vienna-based International Press Institute was quoted as saying: “Mr Moyo , in my opinion, saw nothing wrong with the situation ... The government is doing little or nothing to change the situation in Zimbabwe”.

The ‘Sunday Standard’ quoted a member of the international delegation saying that government officials told them during a meeting last week that independent journalists who “provoked (ruling party supporters) should accept they would get a violent response”. The delegation said after the meeting that they had “little hope” for change in the near future.