ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACKWARDS MEDIA PLURALISM AND DIVERSITY Zimbabwe licensed eight new community radio stations in the last quarter of 2021, bringing the total number of community radio stations that have been licensed to 14. More than 40 years after independence, Zimbabwe has only one television station, the state owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). ZBC also runs five (5) radio stations — Classic 263, Radio Zimbabwe, Power FM, National FM and the regional Khulumani FM and 95.8 Central FM, these are public service broadcasters. By Lesley Moyo INTRODUCTION M EDIA freedom remained quite precarious in Zimbabwe in 2021 despite the government’s repeated statements that it was committed to improving the landscape governing freedom of expression. The 2021 Reporters Without Boundaries (RSF) rankings for Zimbabwe, revealed a fourposition slip, leaving the country ranked 130th. This development points to a worrying decline in press freedom in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, media rights advocacy group, MISA Zimbabwe recorded at least 27 violations in 2021, this is a marked decline from the 52 that were recorded a year earlier, although it remains worryingly high. (1) (2) LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK In 2020, the Zimbabwe government enacted the Freedom of Information Act, marking the first step towards repealing the much reviled Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, or AIPPA (2002). AIPPA was to be repealed by three laws namely the proposed Freedom of Information Act, Zimbabwe Media Commission Act and finally the Data Protection Act. The repeal of AIPPA was celebrated and firmed up President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s credentials as a potential reformer and a break from his predecessor Robert Mugabe’s hold on the media. However, in 2021, the government enacted the Data Protection Act and gazetted the Private Voluntary Organisations Bill, two pieces of legislation that have the potential to infringe on freedom of expression, association and privacy. A number of commercial radio stations have also been licensed over the past decade these being — Star FM, ZiFM, which are national in character, and the regional Skyz Metro FM, CapiTalk FM, Hevoi FM and YaFM. These are privately-owned, but are linked to the government. In 2020, the government licensed six more television broadcast players, but they are yet to start broadcasting. An enduring criticism of Zimbabwe’s media sector is that it lacks diversity. ZBC has been criticised for acting like at worst a party broadcaster and at best a State broadcaster instead of being a public broadcaster. SAFETY AND SECURITY OF JOURNALISTS The safety and security of journalists remains a major concern in Zimbabwe. STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA REPORT 2021 55 ZIMBABWE