MISA Zimbabwe has called on the government to strengthen measures protecting journalists from growing threats, including arbitrary arrests, intimidation, online harassment and lawsuits, warning that impunity for attacks on media workers continues to undermine press freedom.

In a statement marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, MISA urged Zimbabwe to adopt and implement the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

The organisation said emerging technologies were changing the nature of threats facing journalists, while female media workers were increasingly subjected to technology-facilitated gender-based violence aimed at discrediting and silencing them.

This year’s commemorations are being held under the theme “Threats Evolve. Impunity Endures.”

MISA said the safety of journalists was essential to freedom of expression, access to information and public accountability, calling for coordinated action by government, the Zimbabwe Media Commission, police, civil society and media organisations.

It said the UN plan, anchored on prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships, required authorities to investigate attacks on journalists, introduce legislative reforms and strengthen safety measures in newsrooms.

The organisation also called for action against online abuse targeting female journalists and greater public awareness of how attacks on media workers undermine citizens’ right to information.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, marking the same occasion, said journalists continued to pay an “outrageous price” for reporting the truth, facing harassment, surveillance, lawsuits, physical attacks, imprisonment and, in some cases, torture and killings.

“Nothing should impede journalists’ ability to do their work, which is fundamental to human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” Guterres said.