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24/11/2004
Minister voices 'deep concern' over Zimbabwe's media lock out
Foreign Office Minister Dennis MacShane has voiced his "deep concern" at the Zimbabwean government's decision to ban British journalists from the country during this winter's England cricket tour.
Mr MacShane, himself a former BBC sports journalist and ex-president of the NUJ, confirmed today that he had summoned the Zimbabwean Charge d'Affaires to protest at the move. The British embassy in Harare will make similar protests, the Minister said.
The Mugabe-led government has refused accreditation to a number of journalists, including those from the BBC, the Times, the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, and The Mirror.
"I would like to underline my view that this is a reprehensible step. The UK has long been an advocate of media freedom in Zimbabwe. This applies as much to sports journalism as any other kind. The government's actions are further evidence of its refusal to allow the international and domestic media to operate freely in Zimbabwe," he said.
"I will urge the government of Zimbabwe to allow access to all British journalists who have sought access to Zimbabwe to cover the tour."
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday that it was seeking "urgent clarification" from the Zimbabwe government on its decision not to accredit a number of English cricket journalists.
ICC President, Ehsan Mani, said that it remained unclear on what basis the decision had been taken.
The English Cricket Board (ECB) announced its Zimbabwe tour itinerary on September 9 and confirmed that the tour should progress as planned if it is safe and secure for it to do so.
A delegation of John Carr, ECB Director of Cricket Operations, and Richard Bevan, Chief Executive of the PCA, made a pre-tour visit to Bulawayo and Harare in October and found security measures there were acceptable.
The ECB said that the British embassy believed the tour would be safe and secure not only for the tour party but also for travelling supporters.
However, speaking last month, Richard Bevan said: “The decision to tour in no way indicates that players are seeking to condone the situation in Zimbabwe. We look instead to government to provide the lead on any moral or political imperatives."
Travelling supporters and media have been urged to "carefully observe" the Foreign Office's travel advice for Zimbabwe.
(gmcg/mb)
Mr MacShane, himself a former BBC sports journalist and ex-president of the NUJ, confirmed today that he had summoned the Zimbabwean Charge d'Affaires to protest at the move. The British embassy in Harare will make similar protests, the Minister said.
The Mugabe-led government has refused accreditation to a number of journalists, including those from the BBC, the Times, the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, and The Mirror.
"I would like to underline my view that this is a reprehensible step. The UK has long been an advocate of media freedom in Zimbabwe. This applies as much to sports journalism as any other kind. The government's actions are further evidence of its refusal to allow the international and domestic media to operate freely in Zimbabwe," he said.
"I will urge the government of Zimbabwe to allow access to all British journalists who have sought access to Zimbabwe to cover the tour."
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday that it was seeking "urgent clarification" from the Zimbabwe government on its decision not to accredit a number of English cricket journalists.
ICC President, Ehsan Mani, said that it remained unclear on what basis the decision had been taken.
The English Cricket Board (ECB) announced its Zimbabwe tour itinerary on September 9 and confirmed that the tour should progress as planned if it is safe and secure for it to do so.
A delegation of John Carr, ECB Director of Cricket Operations, and Richard Bevan, Chief Executive of the PCA, made a pre-tour visit to Bulawayo and Harare in October and found security measures there were acceptable.
The ECB said that the British embassy believed the tour would be safe and secure not only for the tour party but also for travelling supporters.
However, speaking last month, Richard Bevan said: “The decision to tour in no way indicates that players are seeking to condone the situation in Zimbabwe. We look instead to government to provide the lead on any moral or political imperatives."
Travelling supporters and media have been urged to "carefully observe" the Foreign Office's travel advice for Zimbabwe.
(gmcg/mb)
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