Dzivaresekwa Member of Parliament (MP) Edwin Mushoriwa (MDC Alliance) has requested Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa to issue a ministerial statement explaining why the government has threatened journalists reporting on the Al Jazeera documentary.
Mushoriwa raised a matter of national interest in the National Assembly on Thursday demanding to know why journalists exposing alleged corruption by some government officials were being threatened. NewsDay quoted Mushoriwa as saying:
The presidential spokesperson issued a chilling threat to the media fraternity with respect to the Al Jazeera documentary.
The warning given to the media reminds us of what resulted in the bombing of the Daily News in 2001.
On Wednesday, we were waiting for the Information minister to come to the House so that we ask her questions over the issue, but she did not come. In our view this is an important issue to Zimbabweans and the media.
We want the minister to explain whether or not our own government is no longer committed to the freedom of the Press.
Mutsvangwa must come and give us an explanation on this matter.
Acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Tatenda Mavetera asked Mushoriwa to pose the question to Mutsvangwa when she comes to the House.
The threats against journalists were made on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson George Charamba.
Charamba said the Al Jazeera documentary is defamatory adding that journalists who repeat what Al Jazeera said face arrest.
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