Journos protest Zim poll ban
2008-03-28 08:37
Special Report
Zimbabwean prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai says there has been progress in talks between the country's two political parties.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he doesn't expect the US sanctions on his country to be lifted soon.
Johannesburg - Associations for international journalists and lawyers in southern Africa protested on Thursday against the Zimbabwean government's refusal to allow them to report on and observe that country's general elections.
"When the government rejects all fears of a rigged election, why is it trying to shield these elections from the vast majority of professional journalists?" asked the Foreign Correspondents Association of Southern Africa, which represents 192 journalists from 122 media around the world.
On Saturday, President Robert Mugabe faces the toughest challenge ever to his 28-year rule amid allegations that he is using the state machinery to rig the polls.
Zimbabwe's government, which controls the country's local media, has barred several international media organisations and refused applications from dozens of journalists to cover the elections.
The "near-blanket denial of accreditation" was strongly condemned by the journalists' organisation.
It noted that the "rare approvals were given according to race or nationality" - an apparent reference to the mainly black and southern African journalists being allowed to report.
The association said most of its members were unable to even apply for accreditation because of "astronomical fees" of some US$1 700 demanded by Zimbabwean authorities.
"The whole process is creating an 'elite' of journalists allowed to do their jobs in Zimbabwe, belonging to a certain race or chosen nationalities, and benefiting from the support of rich media," the organisation said.
Western election observers also have been barred, and only delegates from "friendly" countries such as Iran, China, Russia and Libya were invited.
The Southern African Development Community Lawyers Association, representing bar associations and law societies from 14 countries, complained on Thursday that it had not been given accreditation to observe.
"Unrestricted, independent and impartial electoral observation by international institutions such as the SADC Lawyers Association is vital to the promotion and protection of fundamental democratic rights," the association said. "Elections must be free and fair and be seen to be free and fair."
- AP