Two South African journalists were yesterday deported from Zimbabwe. Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (Maz), said in a statement the deportatio...
Two South African journalists were yesterday deported from
Zimbabwe. Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (Maz), said in a statement the
deportation of E-TV journalists Aldrin
Sampear and Linge Ndabambi was appalling.
“The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe is appalled at the decision
by the government of Zimbabwe to deport two South African journalists on the
morning of the 18th of January 2019. The deportation of the foreign journalists
comes on the backdrop of the second directive by government to completely shut
down the Internet in response to widespread citizens’ demonstrations, violent
protests and a heavy-handed State response that has plunged the country into
crisis.”
Maz said the deportation coupled with the Internet shutdown
is against the principle to provide information to the international community.
“The deliberate and drastic actions that government is
taking to ensure a total information blackout are fuelling the obtaining crisis
in the country. Maz therefore reiterates its calls for government to respect
citizens’ constitutionally-guaranteed rights to free expression, access to
information and to media freedom.
“Zimbabwe is a democratic and open society. It is prudent
that government realises that barring foreign media or blocking the Internet
only serve to further isolate the country and will scuttle any plans to
re-engage with the world,” Maz said.
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