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. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009512/mps-demand-answers-over-govt-threat-to-media">NewsDay</a> quoted Mushoriwa as saying:
<blockquote>
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.
</blockquote>
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.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009522/ed-demands-re-run-in-violence-hotspots">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Opposition MP Demands Ministerial Statement Over Govt Threats To Journalists

Dzivaresekwa legislator Edwin Mushoriwa (MDC Alliance), has demanded that Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe should appear before Parliament to explain why the Police disrupted Zimdancehall musician Winky’s performance at a show in Chitungwiza on Saturday.
Police officers, some in plain clothes, stormed Winky D’s performance in Chitungwiza and dragged him off the stage moments after he performed his politically-charged song, Ibotso.
Mushoriwa raised the issue in the National Assembly as a matter of national interest on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200008522/kazembe-faces-parly-grilling-over-winky-d-show-cancellation">NewsDay</a> quoted him as saying:
<blockquote>
A few days ago, one of our popular musicians (Winky D) ‘s show was disrupted by the police. Few hours after that the show of another musician Baba Harare was stopped.
Musicians are the core of the arts industry and they give entertainment to all of us. I am, therefore, requesting that the Home Affairs minister should come before this august House with a ministerial statement to explain whether there are now limitations or that musicians should no longer perform.
The provisions of MOPA (Maintenance of Peace and Order Act) do not require such interference that we are seeing.
The honourable minister should come before us and explain the position.
It’s actually a stab at the arts industry which has been generating something towards the gross domestic product.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

MPs Request Kazembe Ministerial Statement On Disrupted Winky D, Baba Harare Show

An Independent Member of Parliament has warned ZANU PF and MDC Alliance legislators that he will mobilise citizens to storm the parliament building and beat them up.
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Temba_Mliswa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Temba Mliswa</a>, who represents Norton Constituency, was incensed by the MPs across the political divide’s refusal to cooperate in the August House. He said:
<blockquote>You behave like hooligans and I will end up mobilising Zimbabweans online to come to Parliament to stage a demonstration and beat you all up because you are a waste of resources and taxpayers’ money.</blockquote>
Mliswa’s remarks came as a commotion broke out in Parliament after Justice Minister <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Ziyambi_Ziyambi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ziyambi Ziyambi</a> refused to take a suggestion from Dzivarasekwa MP <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Edwin_Mushoriwa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Edwin Mushoriwa</a> (MDC Alliance) on the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency Bill.
Ziyambi demanded that MDC Alliance MPs should first recognise President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the legitimate Head of State before he could consider the suggestion.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/11/mliswa-threatens-to-mobilise-public-to-beat-up-mps/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewsDay</a></h4>

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