and SW Radio (broadcast from London, produced by Zimbabweans in exile). All three are broadcasting on short wave. Their impact is limited by the shortage of SW radio receivers and attempts by government to jam their signals. Radio stations from neighbouring countries are also popular in areas near to the borders. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 2.2 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3 2.3 (2006 = 1.3) Citizens’ access to domestic and international media sources is not restricted by state authorities. ANALYSIS: With the economy in free fall both access to and availability of local publications are decreasing. It is no longer standard practice to buy a newspaper together with a loaf of bread and a pint of milk. All three products are often unavailable or far too expensive for the majority of Zimbabweans. There have been incidents of the authorities banning privately-owned newspapers from being distributed in certain, especially rural areas. In some cases, the secret service CIO buys them up in bulk. Foreign papers available in Zimbabwe include The Zimbabwean (a London-based weekly produced by exiled Zimbabweans) and the South African Mail & Guardian, The Sowetan, Sunday Times and The Sunday Independent. There have been threats by the Media Commission to “deal” with those foreign newspapers which are “hostile” to government. A number of bookshops regularly sell a wide variety of leisure and specialist magazines including Home and Garden, Shape, FHM, National Geographic, Cars and Living and Loving. Weak signals in the outlying areas of the country and frequent power cuts have made it increasingly difficult for people to watch television. Radio is the most popular medium in Zimbabwe but people are limited to the four radio stations run by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. There have allegedly been several attempts by Government to jam the externally based shortwave radio stations broadcasting into Zimbabwe. People who have access to the Internet enjoy a wide choice of online publications being produced by Zimbabweans in the diaspora. If and when the authorities begin seriously implementing the Interception of Communications Act, such on-line publications may be in danger of being filtered out by the internet service providers. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: So This Is Democracy? 2008 2, 3, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 2, 3 2.8 (2006 = 1.2) -264- Media Institute of Southern Africa