Online Content Creators calls for political players to protect journalists ahead of 2023 elections

Harare- ZIMBABWE Online Content Creators ( Zocc) have joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against journalists and called upon local political players to protect journalist from electoral violence ahead of the 2023 elections.

In a statement released Wednesday, Zocc bemoaned the killing of journalists in the line of duty.
“The major political parties in Zimbabwe however pledged to deliver a peaceful electoral environment and promised to do their best to protect all media players practicing journalism during and after the elections period.
“As we fast approach 2023 elections, electoral violence have claimed many media practitioners and we call upon all political players and arms of the State to guard against any possible future crimes against journalism.
“All the political parties in Zimbabwe have in one way or the other caused victimization of media practitioners ,” read part of the statement.

Zocc further bemoaned non prosecution of perpetrators of violence against journalists.

“According to the UNESCO observatory of killed journalists, nine out of town reported cases, the killers go unpunished.

The organisation stated thay impunity leads to more killings and is often a symptom of worsening conflict and breakdown of law and judicial systems.

Zocc also called for the Second Republic to ensure that they arrest the continuous slide in rankings of the local fraternity.

According to latest statistics, Zimbabwe is ranked 130 out of 180 countries in 2021 a contrast to it’s 126 ranking in 2020.

Meanwhile, various media players will next week converge in Victoria Falls to commemorate this UN sanctioned day.