The Media Institute of Southern Africa says conditions for the press in Zimbabwe are unlikely to change soon given the lack of urgency with which the current unity government is initiating reforms enshrined in the power-sharing agreement signed last September.
Njabulo Ncube, vice chairman of MISA’s Zimbabwe chapter, said journalists have scheduled a series meetings in the next few days to map out the way forward for media reforms following inconclusive - some say half-hearted - moves by the Ministry of Information.
The meetings beginning on Friday around the country are among activities that MISA has scheduled to mark World Press Freedom Day, to be formally observed on Sunday.
Ncube told reporter Gibbs Dube of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the unity government has not fully committed itself to repealing repressive media laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Broadcasting Services Act.
The Ministry of Information is controlled by the longruling ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe. The portfolio is held by Webster Shamu, considered a moderate.
More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...