According to Njabulo Ncube, the Co-ordinator of the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZINEF), the current media environment in the country is eerily reminiscent of the oppressive conditions experienced during South Africa’s apartheid era.

“We are living through a situation that mirrors the media suppression of the Ian Smith regime,” Ncube stated, drawing a chilling parallel between the past and present. “The state’s treatment of journalists today is strikingly similar to the media clampdown seen during apartheid, where any dissent was silenced.”

This comparison comes as Zimbabwe faces a series of challenges regarding press freedom, highlighted by the case of journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who has been detained for over 60 days due to interviews deemed critical of political figures. Ncube expressed his frustration, stating that despite expectations of change under the current government, the situation remains stagnant and troubling.

“There’s no progress. We hoped for better under the so-called new dispensation, but it’s more of the same,” Ncube lamented, emphasising how the state continues to stifle independent journalism.

Beyond arrest and detention, journalists in Zimbabwe are also grappling with economic difficulties and restrictive laws that further hinder their ability to operate. Ncube pointed out that Zimbabwe’s economic struggles have created an environment where the media is "suffocating," and many journalists are forced into self-censorship to avoid punishment.

“Survival comes first for many. People choose to buy bread instead of newspapers because the cost of living is unbearable,” Ncube said, highlighting how the everyday realities of Zimbabweans make supporting independent media a secondary concern.

As World Press Freedom Day serves as a global reminder of the importance of a free press, Ncube’s comparison to apartheid-era media suppression calls for urgent attention to the plight of journalists in Zimbabwe and across Africa.  

--ChannelAfrica--