Zimbabwe electoral commission to monitor media ahead of by-elections

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has formed a committee to monitor local media to ensure news outlets “adhere to its regulations” ahead of by-elections in March.

ZEC spokesperson Joyce Kazembe said: “This task is executed in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Media Commission for print media and the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe for the electronic media. The law compels the commission to attach a report on media monitoring to all election reports submitted to parliament. In compliance with the above provisions of the law, the commission has activated the media monitoring committee to monitor coverage of the upcoming by-elections.

“Be prepared to be monitored, and that implies proper behaviour, as you are expected to behave yourself when covering the elections,” said Kazembe.

Zimbabwe is preparing for by-elections on March 26 and for general elections in 2023.

Loughty Dube, executive director of the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe, told TimesLIVE the media monitoring committee is viewed as partisan by involving state-controlled institutions.

“The setting up of the committee, while commendable, should be inclusive,” said Dube.

The ZEC has set up the committee and filled it with state entities, “and what should have been noble was to make the committee all-inclusive and include professional bodies that deal with media professionalism issues on a daily basis.”

“It is sad that in the eyes of many this committee is viewed as an instrument to crack down on the media. ZEC missed an opportunity to involve all critical players working around the area of media advocacy to take part in the monitoring exercise,” said Dube.

TimesLIVE