used to disadvantage opposition parties, i.e. by covering them at times when the public is not watching or listening to the national broadcaster. In this way the ruling party gets preferential treatment from ZBC while, on the face of it, the broadcaster will maintain it is operating within the requirements of the law. ZBC staff – even if they want to act professionally - have no choice but to succumb to these pressures. People who love radio or television work have no other option but to join the state broadcaster. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 3.8 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 1.0 (2006 = 1.2) The public broadcaster is adequately funded in a manner that protects it from arbitrary interference with its budget. ANALYSIS: The last time ZBH got money from government was in 1994 when Jonathan Moyo, the then Minister of Information and Publicity, was in charge. ZBH is surviving on advertising and does not collect licence fees. It is not adequately funded as evidenced by the fact that salaries are sometimes paid late and there is a high staff turnover. The funding shortage is exacerbated by the fact that Government demands free advertising. ZBH has had some of its vehicles attached in a labour dispute brought by retrenched workers and has been reported to be unable to honour its debts. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 3.9 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1 1.2 (2006 = 1.0) The public broadcaster is technically accessible in the entire country. ANALYSIS: Frequent power outages have resulted in the malfunction of ZBC’s technical equipment which directly affects accessibility especially in remote parts of Zimbabwe. People who have access to DSTV can pick up ZBC more clearly via satellite. Radio The reception of the radio channels depends on the station and the bandwidth. Shortwave is heard in most parts of the country. National FM and Radio Zimbabwe have the best signals nationwide. But reception is poor in areas such as Nyanga, Hwange and Beitbridge and people there listen to broadcasts from neighbouring countries. Television According to the chairperson of the parliamentary communications committee TV signals presently cover 40 % of the country. As transmitters are in a very sorry state, it is difficult to So This Is Democracy? 2008 -272- Media Institute of Southern Africa