afrol News, 27 March - The government of Zimbabwe has been condemned for barring leading international news media from covering the next weekend's general elections.

Zimbabwe's act is not in tandem with international conventions it had
signed, guaranteeing "total access to national and international media."

The Paris-based Reporters sans frontiers the government's act forms part
of its designed authoritarian measures and irregularities.

“When they have taken stock of these latest developments, the
international observers accepted by the government will not be able to
pretend that the circumstances surrounding the elections were fine. It
is clear that press freedom, at least, has not been guaranteed, which is
a serious flaw for elections that are supposed to be democratic.”

Barely five days before the polls, Presidential Spokesman George Charisma
confirmed the

government's refusal to accredit most of the international media, including
the BCC, CNN and South Africa’s independent media group.

Zimbabwean authorities have not accepted western observers. Mr. Charamba
said the government was "mindful of attempts to turn journalists into
observers and security personnel from hostile countries."

South Africa's state broadcaster [SABC] was granted accreditation, but
with conditions that it would use equipment provided by Zimbabwe's
state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. Sac’s accreditation does
not cover the use of the broadcaster's own satellite transmission
equipment.

The Mugabe government has accepted the requests of some accredited
international media organisations that they needed additional support
staff. These organisations, which include Reuters, Agence France-Presse,
the Associated Press and Al-Jazeera, have been warned that their bureau
chiefs would be held "fully accountable" for their behaviour.

Some Zimbabwean journalists have also been banned from covering the
crucial elections. President Mugabe - who seeking a sixth term in office
- will be challenged by three candidates.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories