This election has also been significant because of the increasing role social media and other ICT tools have played in election-related matters. This short write up details three online events caused directly by actions in the “offline” world.
News
Soldier assaults foreign journalist
Yeshiel Panchia a journalist with the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA) was on 2 August 2018 assaulted by a soldier following deployment of the army to quell protests in Harare.
Media freedom violations amidst political demonstrations
The army on 1 August 2018 ordered journalists covering riotous demonstrations over delays in the release of presidential election results in Harare to switch off their video recording equipment and cameras.
AIPPA Reform key to free, fair and credible elections in Zimbabwe
By regulating the media and establishing the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), the Act does not only entrench statutory media regulation but also cements the impression that access to information is a media rights issue.
Court challenge on the constitution of the Media Monitoring Committee
MISA Zimbabwe on 20 July 2018 filed an urgent chamber application with the High Court in Harare challenging the constitution of the ZEC-led Media Monitoring Committee.
MDC Alliance youths assault journalist
MDC-Alliance youths on 15 July 2018 assaulted freelance journalist Tamuka Charakupa in Harare’s dormitory town of Chitungwiza.
Zimbabwe’s urgent need for data privacy laws
This short digest discusses two ICT related events that show how dated Zimbabwean laws are when it comes to the protection and promotion of fundamental rights in the digital age.
Suppression of media freedom entrenches conflict
Zimbabwe has become the microcosm of everything that has gone wrong with the media in Africa, thanks to statutory regulation. The state, by its nature, is averse to the free exchange of ideas and opinion because that would be a threat to its parochial interest of power retention.
AIPPA misnomer to access to information
There is the need for more advocacy journalism if I can put it that way, that keeps pushing the boundaries in the hope of enhancing freedom of expression and of the media.
The need for minimum USSD standards in Zimbabwe
On the 2nd and 3rd of July 2018 consumers nationwide struggled to make Ecocash transactions as the system was not working. Mobile banking consumers also struggled with intermittent mobile banking services for the most part of the same two-day period.