AUDIO: Zimbabwe Online Content Creators speak after important High Court victory

Zimbabwe’s Online Content Creators (ZOCC) scored an important High Court victory on Wednesday in Harare which compels the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) to stop treating them as a different entity from other media houses in terms of the accreditation process.

Zimbabwe Online Content Creators president Toneo Rutsito on the right with lawyer Chris Mhike after victory in the High Court in Harare on 3 June 2020

ZMC had classified content creators with their own colour and type of ‘press card’ for individuals in the 2020 registration which raised fears of possible discrimination when it came to access to events or treatment by security services when in the line of duty.

Represented by their lawyer Chris Mhike of Atherston and Cooke, ZOCC argued its case and sought relief its favour.

Justice Happias Zhou ordered the suspension of the media accreditation process on 3 June 2020. The High Court judge said the ZMC should also not proceed with implementation of its proposed new categories for accreditation.