tions was for 25 provincial radio stations resulting in the shortlisting of 18 and the subsequent 12 public hearings after six applicants pulled out. Zimbabwe likely to miss 2015 digital migration deadline Zimbabwe missed SADC 2013 deadline and is likely to miss the International Telecommunications Union’s 2015 deadline despite assertions by the government that digital broadcasting has the potential to support 80 television services. . Currently ZBC (television), is not accessible in some parts of the country and in those parts where there is signal, the reception is extremely poor. However, radio transmission had reportedly increased to 80 percent in 2013 following a Transmedia co-franchise with Skynet over satellite services that allowed for transmission expansion nationwide. The equipment used in radio stations owned by the ZBC, due to under-capitalisation, is antiquated and needs replacing with digital studios. Former Information Minister Webster Shamu told Parliament in 2009 that ZBC needed approximately $70 million to replace its obsolete equipment, saying all transmitters in the country were more than 25 years past their lifespan. The current minister reiterated in 2014 that ZBC needs an overhaul of its existing equipment and transmitters if digital migration is to be successful. Mobile and internet penetration not as high as previously thought. Despite having an “over-subscribed” mobile penetration rate of 106%, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), estimates the actual head-count of people in possession of SIM cards is only 60% of the population, that is, approximately 8.4 million people. This raises questions about mobile penetration and some key decisions that may have been based on misplaced assumptions. For example, Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, imposed a 25% duty tariff on mobile devices and other IT gadgets because he believed Zimbabwe had achieved over 100% mobile penetration and concluded the previous duty free tariff on mobile devices had “achieved its purpose”. Meanwhile, internet penetration is now 47%. The total number of internet subscriptions in the country as at the end of June 2014 was 6.1 million, up from 5.6 million in March this year. LOOKING TO 2015 As we look to 2015, if Zimbabwe is to realise an environment that is more conducive to media freedom, free expression and access to information, government and public authorities must: • Swiftly align media laws, policy and regulatory frameworks with the new constitutional dispensation and the regional and international instruments Zimbabwe is a state party or signatory to; • Ensure the safety and security of journalists and bring perpetrators of media violations to justice; • Replace the ZBC Commercialisation Act with one that ensures ZBC’s governance, managerial and editorial independence as provided for under the new constitution; • Provide the public and broadcasting stakeholders with regular updates on Zimbabwe’s digital migra- So This is Democracy? 2014 89