Zimbabwe's parliament has voted to approve a law limiting the freedoms of independent and foreign journalists ahead of presidential elections in March.
The controversial media law was altered to take account of criticism from within President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.
The bill sailed through without going to the vote as opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legislators who had earlier fiercely debated against the bill did not resist.
Under the law, a new media regulatory commission will award long-term accreditation only to Zimbabwe citizens and permanent residents, while foreign journalists will be allowed to work in the country for "limited periods."
The law also criminalises reporting on the deliberations of the cabinet and other government bodies.
AFP
