Zimbabwe Media Commission: High Court stops Accreditation of Online Content Providers

In a judgment dated 3rd June [first document downloadable below] Justice Zhou granted an interim interdict stopping the Zimbabwe Media Commission [ZMC] stopping the Zimbabwe Media Commission from proceeding with accreditation of media practitioners represented by ZOCC [the Zimbabwe Online Content Providers Trust] on the basis of the new categories for accreditation introduced through the Commission’s press statement ZMC04/2020 of Thursday 21st May 2020 [second

COURT WATCH 08/2020 - High Court (Commercial Division) Rules Gazetted and in Force

COURT WATCH 8/2020

[2nd June 2020]

High Court (Commercial Division) Rules, 2020 Gazetted and In Force

SI 2020-123 High Court (Commercial Division) Rules, 2020

IT is hereby notified that the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has, in terms of section 56 of the High Court Act [Chapter 7:06], hereinafter called “the Act “approved the following rules of court made by the Chief Justice, to regulate the proceedings of the Commercial Division of the High Court:—

PART I

Court Orders (1) ZBC and (2) Government to Improve their Dissemination of Information to Deaf and Blind Persons

The downloadable documents contain the High Court orders issued against the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation [ZBC] and three Government Ministers – of Information, Health and Social Welfare – in case HH 2017/2020, heard in Harare on 20th April by Justice Mafusire.

Urgent Chamber Application - access to information on COVID19

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Applicants hereby make an urgent chamber application seeking a provisional order in terms of the draft order annexed to this application and on the following grounds:

HH 605-2019 Mlilo v Minister of Finance & Economic Development - Judgment by Zhou J invalidating SI 205/2019 re Intermediated Money Transfer Tax as unconstitutional - 18 September 2019

In this important judgment Justice Zhou decided that both SI 205/2018 [changing the rate and incidence of the Intermediated Money Transfer Tax] and the policy decision it gave effect to [as stated in the Minister's Supplementary Budget Presentation on 1st August 2019] were inconsistent with the Constitution and therefore void of legal effect. He cited inconsistency with section of the Constitution 134(a) - which bars Parliament from delegating its primary law-making power - and the constitutional principle of Separation of Powers.

SI 2019-187 High Court (Fees) (Civil Cases) (Amendment) Rules, 2019 (No. 10)

IT is hereby notified that the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has, in terms of section 57 of the High Court Act [Chapter 7:06], made the following rules:—

1. These rules may be cited as the High Court (Fees) (Civil Cases) (Amendment) Rules, 2019 (No. 10).

GN 2019/1492 - Supreme Court and High Court Calendar 2020

General Notice 1492 of 2019.

SUPREME COURT ACT [CHAPTER 7:13]

HIGH COURT ACT [CHAPTER 7:06]

__________

Supreme and High Court Calendar 2020

_________

IT is hereby notified that the Chief Justice has, in terms of section 27 of the Supreme Court Act [Chapter 7:13], and section 47 of the High Court Act [Chapter 7:06], directed that the sitting and vacation of the Supreme Court and High Court during the year 2020 shall be as specified in the Schedule.

JSC Candidates for Interviews for the Judges of the High Court

INTERVIEWS IN PUBLIC OF CANDIDATES NOMINATED FOR THE EIGHT (8) POSITIONS OF JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE.

HH Allison Charles & Counselling Services Unit V President & Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE

HELD AT HARARE

Allison Charles & Counselling Services Unit V President & Others

HMA - 203/18 5th Respondent's HOA - Veritas v ZBC

BRIEF SUBMISSIONS

It is submitted that;

a) The 5th Respondent's opposing affidavit is valid and properly before the court.

HMA - 203/18 3rd Respondent's HOA - Veritas v ZBC

i. The relief sought against the 3'd respondent, as supported by the founding affidavit, cannot be granted considering the existence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Media Coverage of Elections) Regulations, 2008, (the regulations).

HMA - 203/18 1st Resp HOA - Veritas v ZBC

1st RESPONDENT'S HEADS OF

ARGUMENTS

1. These heads of arguments are filed in augmentation of the opposition filed by the 1st Respondent to the Applicants' application.

HMA - 203/18 Heads of Argument - Veritas v ZBC

APPLICANTS’ HEADS OF ARGUMENT

BACKGROUND

HMA - 203/18 Answering Affidavit - Veritas v ZBC (Media Access)

FIRST RESPONDENT’S NOTICE OF OPPOSITION

I, VALERIE INGHAM-THORPE, do hereby make oath and swear as follows:

I have read what purports to be the 1^st Respondent’s opposing affidavit and answer thereto as follows:

HMA - 203/18 5th Respondent's Notice of Opposition - Veritas v ZBC

5TH RESPONDENT'S NOTICE OF OPPOSITION

TAKE NOTICE THAT the 5th Respondent herein opposes the Applicants' Application for a Mandatory Interdict and a Declaratory Order served on it on 1 June 2018.

HMA - 203/18 3rd Respondent's Notice of Opposition - Veritas v ZBC

BE PLEASED TO TAKE NOTICE THAT the 3rd Respondent hereby intend to oppose the

Application on the grounds set out in the Opposing Affidavit.

FURTHER TAKE NOTICE THAT the 3rd Respondent's address for service is as specified below.

HMA - 203/18 1st Respondent's Notice of Opposition - Veritas v ZBC

PATRICIA MUCHENGWA hereby make oath and state that the following information is to my belief true and correct:

1. I am the corporate secretary for the 1st Respondent and in that capacity I am duly authorized to respond to this affidavit.

HMA - 203/18 Annexture A4 - Analysis of Annexture

Media Monitors’ Analysis of Annexure “J” of the 1^st Respondent’s Opposing Affidavit in Firinne Trust operating as Veritas & 2 Ors v Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation & 4 Ors HC 230/18

Coverage of political parties on ZTV on the specified dates

Introduction

HMA - 203/18 Annexture A3 - Methodology

MEDIA MONITORING OF POLITICAL PLURALISM

Media monitoring of political pluralism aims at observing the media coverage in a scientific manner in order to assess:

The access granted to political parties and independent candidates in the mass media and whether the coverage of candidates is fair and balanced;
whether candidates standing for election were covered in a unbiased and equitable manner;
the tone of media coverage towards the political actors.

veritaszim

High Court