EU-parlementariër Thijs Berman heeft een oproep gestuurd aan Zimbabwaanse politici om het recht op informatiegaring en verstrekking te respecteren. Dit naar aanleiding van de arrestatie van Radio VOP-medewerkers.

Radio VOP maakt uitzendingen door middel van straatinterviews. Het is een van de weinige radiostations in Zimbabwe die de bevolking vrijuit aan het woord laten. De programma's van Radio VOP worden uitgezonden vanuit Madagascar, omdat in Zimbabwe de staatsradio een monopoliepositie heeft. NiZA heeft Radio VOP actief gesteund in haar oprichtingsfase.

John Masuku, de directeur van VOP

Radio VOP's kantoor in Harare is eind 2005 overvallen door de Zimbabwaanse autoriteiten. Hierbij werd alle apparatuur in beslag genomen.

VOP bestuursleden David Masunda, Isabella Matambanadzo, Millicent Phiri, Lawrence Chibwe, Nhlahla Ngwenya en Arnold Tsunga werden gearresteerd op verdenking van het maken van radioprogramma's zonder licentie.

De bestuursleden van VOP zijn voor het Hoger Gerechtshof gedaagd op persoonlijke titel, wat inhoudt dat ze 2 jaar gevangenisstraf riskeren. Op 25 september dient de eerste inhoudelijke behandeling van hun zaak. Op 1 juni jl. werd bekend dat naast de 7 bestuursleden ook 3 werknemers van VOP voor het gerecht zullen moeten verschijnen.

In Zimbabwe, waar het overgrote deel van de bevolking geen geld heeft om een krant te kopen, is radio het enige medium dat toegankelijk is voor bijna iedereen. Daarom blijft NiZA solidair met Radio VOP.

De Zimbabwaanse Broadcasting Services Act bevat bepalingen op het gebied van mediavrijheid die in strijd zijn met internationale verdragen. In 2005 konden radiostations een uitzendlicentie aanvragen. Niet één aanvrager heeft toen een licentie gekregen.


Links

Radio Voice of the People

One World Media Awards 2006

NiZA's media programma

Zimbabwe: Crackdown on the Press Intensifies (Human Rights News)




Brief van Thijs Berman:


Brussels, June 29, 2006


Dear Sir, Dear Madam,

As a Member of the European Parliament, member of the Intergroup on Press, Communication and Freedom, I take the liberty to write to you concerning the case of Radio Voice of the People, a lawfully registered Zimbabwean communications trust, holding a Trust Deed issues by the High Court of Zimbabwe in 2000.

In this House, we are informed that on December 15, 2005, officers of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) representing the Law and Order Section of the Harare Central Police Station's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) raided the offices of VOP. They seized computers and documents.

In addition to the raid, the police arrested three female members of staff, MARIA NYANYIWA, NYASHA BOSHA and KUNDAI MUGWANDA. They were detained without charge for four days. The three women were only released from policy custody without charge after the office of the Attorney General declined to prosecute them.

On the 19th of December 2005, John Masuku and David Masunda, the Chairperson of the VOP reported to the police station. Mr. Masuku was detained for four days only to appear in court on the 23rd of December 2005, to answer to charges of contravening Section 27 of the Broadcasting Services Act. Mr. Masuku is currently out of custody on a ZW$ 4 million bail and has been periodically reporting to the Law and Order Section of Harare Central Police Station.

On January 18, 2006, two police officers and one soldier visited the home of VOP Trustee Mr. Arnold Tsunga's in the city of Mutare. Informed of his absence they then requested that his workers, a female maid and a male gardener accompany them to the police station. They were released after the intervention of lawyers without any charges being proferred against them.

On 21 Saturday 2006 police from the Law and Order Section proceeded to arrest Anesu Kamba, a driver at Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, and Charles Nyamufukudzwa, a caretaker, for allegedly obstructing investigations when the two professed ignorance about the whereabouts of Arnold Tsunga.

Another set of police officers had visited the house of Nhanhla Ngwenya, another trustee of VOP. During their arrest, the VOP Trustees were informed by the arresting officers that their case was at the direction of officials within a structure known as the Joint Operations Command (JOC) and that there were instructions for their incarceration.

The ten associates of Radio Voice of the People have to answer charges relating to their alleged breech of Broadcasting laws in Zimbabwe. The circumstances surrounding their arrests, the conduct of the police and the deficiencies in the charge and its issuance lead me to conclude that the representatives of VOP are being deliberately persecuted for seeking to enjoy their rights to Freedom of Expression and freedom of the airwaves, as articulated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Zimbabwe is a signatory.

My concern for the situation of Radio VOP comes in the context of recent attempts at jamming the signal that carries the VOP frequency in the southern African region. I urge you to ensure that the government of Zimbabwe takes very clear steps to:

a. Promote and protect freedoms and rights to information and expression rather than actively impede their enjoyment and attainment
b. Repeal, as has been recommended by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, legislation such as the Broadcasting Services Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Public Order and Security Act which deny citizens the enjoyment of their rights to information and the media.
c. Cease unwarranted intrusions into the operations of independent media organizations.
d. Desist from needless and unreasonable interrogation, arrest and persecution of people associated with the lawfully registered entity known as Radio Voice of the People personnel and trustees.
e. Ensure the respect and protection of the right to liberty and security of person of media practitioners in Zimbabwe.
f. Stop threatening, intimidating, and harassing legal practitioners in the course of their duties

Yours truly,

Thijs Berman
MEP (Party of European Socialists, Netherlands)