Mugabe to push media bill

Mugabe accused the EU of "demonising" Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is to call for party unity in an attempt to push through a controversial media law on Wednesday.

A meeting of the ruling ZANU-PF party is to be held during which the government is expected to press for closed ranks before parliament discusses the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill.

The bill, which has been criticised for limiting the freedom of journalists, has reportedly caused a party split as well as international condemnation.

Its debate has been held up in parliament on a number of occasions.

MORE STORIES • EU gives Mugabe one last chance  • Britain turns up heat on Mugabe

Zimbabwe's parliamentary legal committee, which is dominated by ZANU-PF, on Tuesday attacked the measure as a threat to free speech and said it gave the government "frightening powers" to control the press ahead of presidential elections in March.

The committee said in a highly critical report that the draft media law violated the constitution despite amendments aimed at appeasing opponents.

"I can say without equivocation that this bill in the original form was the most calculated and determined assault on our liberties guaranteed by the constitution...," committee chairman and former cabinet minister Eddison Zvobgo said in a report read to parliament on Tuesday.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa was due to meet with the legal committee on Wednesday to seek a compromise on the bill, but stood firm on making it more difficult for foreign press to report on events in the troubled country.

A ZANU-PF backbencher said: "I think the best way of getting a consensus would be for the government to concede some ground and make a few more amendments...and it will pass."

ZANU-PF controls 93 of the 150 seats in parliament and has used its majority to pass two controversial measures -- a security and order bill and amendments to electoral rules -- despite fierce criticism at home and abroad.

Zimbabwe also faces the threat of European Union sanctions and suspension from the Commonwealth as a result of his attempts to bring in a string of hardline bills and his tough land reform programme.

A meeting of Commonwealth members is due to address the issue in London on Wednesday, with the UK backing a suspension from the 54-member group.

But it is more likely that a final decision will be taken at the Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia next month.