PROBLEMS facing Zimbabwe’s media are expected to top the agenda of the Federation of African Journalists conference set for Nairobi, Kenya in November.

This was revealed by International Federation of Journalists (IFJ executive secretary Aidan White during a press conference in Harare yesterday following a four-day fact-finding mission in the country.

During his mission, White met representatives from the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, editors from various media organisations, and Information and Publicity minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and his permanent secretary George Charamba, among others.

White however came under attack from journalists for having "selectively" met stakeholders in the media, with some accusing him of having a one-sided approach to the media situation in the country.

"After these consultations, I will put together a report that I am going to table before the IFJ executive council. The report will take into consideration input that I got from the various stakeholders here," White said.

"In the broader analysis, I would say that the Zimbabwean issue will be top of the agenda of the Federation of African Journalists conference that will take place in Kenya in November. We need to come up with a solution to the crisis because it needs a solution as a matter of urgency."

He said the federation would deliberate on the "unacceptable and illegitimate laws" that have been used in administering the media and the confrontational approach government has pursued against the independent media.

"Everybody is agreed that these laws are not helping the media in any way. They are instead stifling media operations in Zimbabwe. These issues will be discussed with a view of finding a lasting solution to that kind of crisis," he said in apparent reference to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Broadcasting Services Act and Public Order and Security Act.