WASHINGTON – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says  first lady Auxilia Mnangagwa should not stop media practitioners from covering her events like what happened a few days ago when her handlers blocked reporters from taking photos while she was participating in a state function.

In a statement, CPJ said it was worrying that Mnangagwa is barring some journalists from covering her events.

According to the Media Institute of Southern Africa’s Zimbabwe chapter (Misa Zimbabwe), some of her security aides recently barred five journalists from covering her visit to the Museum of African Liberation in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.

Misa also reported that on the following day, some members of her security staff and Mnangagwa’s spokesperson blocked another journalist from photographing a separate event.

CPJ says the country’s leaders should ensure that reporters have access to the first lady.

Some state officials have been quoted as saying Mnangagwa is entitled to her privacy.

Nqaba Matshazi of Misa Zimbabwe told VOA Zimbabwe Service that they are engaging the government over this issue in “order to ensure that all journalists have access to state officials and the First Lady.’

May 3  is World Press Freedom Day amid reports that there were a few incidents of violence against journalists in Zimbabwe this year compared to last year.

Meanwhile, the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) said 2022 saw the country witnessing an increase in the number of violations against journalists.

“Media development agencies recorded numerous cases where journalists were assaulted, threatened, harassed at political gatherings and rallies, while others were also barred from covering national events,” VMCZ chairperson Alec Muchadehama said in a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day.

“Other cases of particular concern involved the unlawful arrests and assaults of journalists conducting their lawful professional duties by the police.

“More grave are threats allegedly made by government officials threatening  Zimbabwean journalists with imprisonment if they continue to cover the ‘Gold Mafia’ exposé.”

He added: “The VMCZ, while commending the government for repealing bad laws, notes with concern the continued retention of claw back clauses that manifest in provisions of new laws, rendering the repealing of repressive laws a multiplication by zero effect.

“The Public Order and Security Act [POSA] was repealed, but replaced with an almost identical Maintenance of Peace and Order Act.

“AIPPA was repealed, but the new regulations seek to maintain some of its odious clauses.”

Muchadehama said the VMCZ continued to call upon the relevant authorities to adopt a favourable type of media regulation.

“While VMCZ remains committed to media self-regulation as a democratic form of ethical, professional, and publicly accountable media, the consensus on co-regulation agreed to by media stakeholders remain a viable option,” he said.

“However the nature of the media co-regulation agreed upon by stakeholders need to be defined and refined on how it should be employed in the Zimbabwean scenario, to avoid arm twisting of other players and to ensure that effective media co-regulation is attained.

“As we head towards elections VMCZ urges political parties, civil society organizations and state institutions to respect the right of the media to work freely and without any undue hindrance.

“VMCZ also urges political parties and the public at large, that should they have any grievances against professional media in the country, they are welcome to utilize the VMCZ media complaints mechanisms.- VOA/STAFF REPORTER