and Entertainments Act leads the
Research has shown that the State
line in terms of subjecting works of
cannot tolerate political criticism at
art
Act
any level. Political discussion of
establishes the Censorship Board
whatever form is thwarted not least
responsible for censoring all manner
in the arts sector. More than 90 per
of artistic work.
cent of banned artistic performances
In Zimbabwe censorship, which in
or works were declared undesirable
principle
of
for the political satire contained
international obligations, backdates
therein, which arts experts have
to 1911. The grounds upon which
subsequently
censorship is administered, which
offensive.
in a way reflect expected standards
works have been included in the
of works of art in Zimbabwe, have
report. In these samples, political
remained the same to this day.
controversy dominated the grounds
These
for censorship
to
censorship.
is
have
a
been
This
violation
interpreted
to
evaluated
Examples
of
banned
However,
harm to national security, public
component of the right to freedom of
order, public health or threat to the
expression, has had no chance to
economy
Political
exercise its own evaluation of the
controversy and morality are still
banned works and events since the
grounds dominating the rationale
practice is to censor materials before
for censorship as they did in 1911.
public
Notwithstanding the presence of the
essence of censorship.
Censorship Board, there are now
There is excessive criminalisation of
numerous self-appointed censors of
artistic expression with the Criminal
freedom of expression including the
Law (Codification & Reform) Act
Police Service whose conduct in
bent and stretched to cover artistic
censoring
artists
puts
the
works. As if banning was not in
Censorship
Board’s
record
to
itself a sufficient penalty, creators of
shame.
the
state.
public,
non-
include elastic definitions such as
of
the
as
consumption
as
–
a
the
key
very
such works were prosecuted on the
basis of the content of their artistic
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