Zim plans to relax media restrictions

CAPE TOWN – Zimbabwe’s unity government plans to relax draconian media restrictions as part of an action plan meant to restore basic rights, heal political scars and boost international trust, the state newspaper reported on Monday.

Ministers agreed on the 100-day action plan at a weekend retreat marked by a high degree of consensus between President Robert Mugabe’s party and his former opposition rivals, the official Herald newspaper said.’Even if we don’t have the money, let’s allow ourselves to dream,’ it quoted Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa as saying. ‘After setting these targets, we can now start sourcing for the resources,’ said Chinamasa – a longtime Mugabe loyalist.’We have infected each other with hope and optimism and so let’s go out there and infect others,’ said Gordon Moyo, a senior aide to Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.After months of political deadlock and economic misery, a government of national unity was established in February, with Mugabe as president and his longtime nemesis Tsvangirai as prime minister.After a faltering start there are increasing signs that the two rival parties are determined to overcome their differences and mend fences with the rest of the world. Zimbabwe is desperate for foreign aid and wants to see an end to sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries.Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, dropped his usual political rhetoric in opening the weekend retreat at the resort of Victoria Falls. Both he and Tsvangirai appealed for united action to halt the collapse of the economy.Tsvangirai left the meeting early after his toddler grandson drowned in his swimming pool in Harare – less than a month after his wife was killed in a car crash.Chinamasa said one of the most immediate priorities was to improve the ‘justice delivery system,’ especially in prisons. A shocking South African documentary last week showed prisoners literally starving to death.’We have agreed to meet the basic needs of all prisoners in terms of food, clothing, bedding and health in the next 30 days,’ the Herald quoted him as saying.He said the government also wanted to ease media restrictions in accordance with the power-sharing deal, which called for more freedoms. Under Mugabe, the independent press was muzzled, foreign news organizations banned and journalists regularly harassed, beaten and jailed.Chinamasa said there was ‘agreement to review the media policy so as to create a political climate where divergent voices will be heard,’ said Chinamasa. ‘We want to see a multiplicity of media houses.’Moyo said there would likely be a new media commission which would consider licensing new television and radio stations.Since becoming prime minister, Tsvangirai has set up his own Web site with details of government and opposition speeches and inviting Zimbabweans to send in their blogs and comments in a bid to promote transparent governance and greater democracy.He has pleaded with the West to trust the unity government – until now the United States, Britain and other countries have adopted a ‘wait and see’ attitude, although they have provided some short term emergency relief. The World Bank was one of the sponsors of the weekend retreat – a sign of the thaw between Zimbabwe and donors. – Nampa-AP