Mugabe's victory spells doom for the media in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article explores recent events in Zimbabwe, the violence and intimidation thatmarred the 2002 presidential elections and the war Robert Mugabe, the country'spresident since independence in 1980, waged against whoever was opposed to orchallenged his leadership - especially white farmers and journalists - in the run-up tothe crucial polls. I opine that even though Mugabe won 56 per cent of the country's vote, his leadershiplacks legitimacy because a sizeable number of people, especially in the oppositionareas, were denied the right to exercise their democratic right to cast their vote.Although I argue that his purge against critics is unjustifiable and evil, I also writeabout the need to fight injustices subjected to his people. I posit that Mugabe's contempt and assault on the media will continue, especially after he signed into law the controversial Access to Information Act aimed at curtailingcriticism by the press.