13 Sep 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Zimbabwe’s government has banned South African group Freshlyground over a music video that portrays President Mugabe as a chicken afraid to relinquish power. The video that accompanies the song “Chicken To Change” represents the president in the style of satirical show Spitting Image. The song is a product of the band’s collaboration with controversial cartoonist Jonathan Zapiro. Freshlyground was due to perform a concert in Harare next month, but members of the group have now had their working visas revoked.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdf2lBIe4Ac
31 Aug 10 | Index Index, minipost
The government has banned the works of prominent artist Owen Maseko which depict 1980s atrocities committed by a Zimbabwean army unit. An estimated 20,000 civilians, mostly supporters of opposition movement the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), were killed by the notorious Fifth Brigade. Maseko’s paintings were banned under the Censorship and Entertainment Act because the censorship authority claimed they were “offensive” and “tribal”. Police stormed the Zimbabwe National Gallery, where the works were on display, covered them in newspaper, and arrested Maseko. The artist was arrested and charged under laws that prohibit insulting or demeaning President Mugabe.
08 Jun 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
The launch of the first new independent domestic Zimbabwean newspaper in 17 years was disrupted by Harare police on Friday (4 June). Shortly before the first edition of NewsDay was due to be delivered to newstands around Harare, the newspaper’s marketing manager, Linda Msika, was arrested along with distribution staff and vendors. Police officers were allegedly unhappy that NewsDay — given a publishing license by the Zimbabwe Media Commission last week — was to give away Friday’s edition for free. After being detained for several hours, staff members were released without charge, and the distribution of the newspaper was allowed to proceed. NewsDay, owned by the independent Alpha Media Holdings group, is expected to offer a counterpoint to Harare’s two state-owned, pro-government newspapers.
26 May 10 | Index Index, minipost
The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) is to authorize the publication of two newspapers independent of state control in Harare. The privately produced Daily News and Newsday, also publishers of the weekly Zimbabwe Independent and Standard newspapers, have both had their applications to publish accepted by the ZMC secretariat following their closure as a result of legislation censoring the media in 2003. Journalists from a series of media houses and newspapers previously banned by Robert Mugabe’s government have re-applied for their previous jobs whilst many organizations have applied for magazine and periodical publishing licenses since 4 May. The Zimbabwean government has yet to announce changes to restrictions on the granting of broadcast licenses.
