Zimbabwe 2015 while covering a demonstration in Harare by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) against job losses. Photojournalist Crispen Ndlovu, was also assaulted by the police in Bulawayo in July 2015. James Mwaya of Bindura was in September 2015 charged with contravening Section 33 of the Criminal law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly insulting or undermining the President. Journalist Patrick Chitongo was convicted and sentenced for a slightly different reason - publishing unregistered newspapers in breach of the stringent registration requirements under AIPPA. He was sentenced to an effective eight months imprisonment following suspension of four months of the sentence on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years. While media violations have generally been attributed to state actors, political actors and security personnel, there was a worrying if not unprecedented development involving the private sector. On 26 March 2015 Steward Bank and mobile phone operator, Econet Wireless, raided the offices of The Source news agency in Harare. The Sheriff and the Police searched and seized documents from The Source news agency in execution of a High Court order granted by Justice Musakwa. This followed allegations by Steward Bank and Econet Wireless that the publication of two stories titled: Steward Bank seeks land to settle 2.1 million Chiyangwa loan and Debt distressed Zimbabwe moves to reschedule domestic debt, were premised on illegally obtained documents. BROADCASTING More radio stations amidst a constricted broadcasting sector The broadcasting sector largely remained constricted despite the licensing of eight urban-based commercial radio stations by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) in March 2015. While this development can easily be perceived as marking the decentralisation of broadcasting, reality is that the new licenses amounted to the expansion of the media which is directly under state control and associated with the ruling elite. The licenses were issued to five successful companies notably AB Communications, which will broadcast as Gogogoi FM in Masvingo and Faya FM in Gweru, Kingstons, which will broadcast as Nyaminyami FM in Kariba and KE100.4 in Harare. Fairtalk Communications, which will broadcast as Skyz Metro FM in Bulawayo and Breeze FM in Victoria Falls. Zimpapers’s Diamond FM in Mutare and Ray of Hope, which will broadcast as YA FM in Zvishavane, were also granted licenses. Only YA FM had started broadcasting (as of December 2015), amid reports that the station which went on air in the mining town of Zvishavane in October, was struggling to stay afloat due to the harsh economic environment. The majority shares in AB Communications are held by Minister of Information Communication Technologies and Courier Services Supa Mandiwanzira’s family trust, while Zimpapers and Kingstons are under state control. Zimpapers and AB Communications already own two So This is Democracy? 2015 97