Zimbabwe delays newspapers' registration
Media activists in Zimbabwe have criticised the government for delaying the registration of new newspapers and failing to implement media reforms. A coalition of rights lobby groups and media organisations marched in Harare on Monday (3 May 2010) to mark World Press Freedom Day and demand that reforms be accelerated.
The Zimbabwean media operates under strict government control and many foreign journalists have been banned. The country's last independent newspaper was closed in 2003 for allegedly criticising the government. Earlier this year the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) was created to drive media reforms, but local journalists claim no new licenses have been granted so far.
ZMC chairman Godfrey Majonga said applications for new licences will start being processed this week.