1 HH 359-20 HC 2534/20 ZIMBABWE ONLINE CONTENT CREATORS TRUST (ZOCC) versus ZIMBABWE MEDIA COMMISSION HIGH COURT OF ZIMBABWE ZHOU J HARARE, 29 May & 3 June 2020 Urgent chamber application C. Mhike for the applicant T. L. Dhlakama for the respondent ZHOU J: This is an application for an order interdicting the respondent from proceeding with the accreditation of journalists based on the new categories which were recently introduced by the respondent. The applicant is a trust duly registered in accordance with the laws of Zimbabwe. freedom. Its sphere of operation is the promotion of freedom of expression and media It represents the interests of online content creators as part of its mandate. Its membership includes journalists, bloggers, social media practitioners, online editors, and content creating media houses. The respondent is an independent commission constituted as such in terms of s 248 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe as read with s 38(1) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act [Chapter 10:27] (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”). Its functions are detailed in s 249 (1) of the Constitution and s 39(1) of the Act. These include: “(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) to uphold, promote and develop freedom of the media; to promote and enforce good practices and ethics in the media; ... ... ... to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe have fair and wide access to information; ... to encourage the adoption of new technology in the media and in the dissemination of information; to promote fair competition and diversity in the media; and to conduct research into issues relating to freedom of the press and of expression, and in that regard to promote reforms in the law.”