It should be stressed that during the preparation of this Media Barometer, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Sociedade Notícias, SA” was the Bank of Mozambique Governor. The situation was only altered with the appointment of the new Chairwoman of the Board of Directors who is also a senior staff member of the Bank of Mozambique. SCORES: Individual scores: 1; 1; 1; 1; 1; 1; 1; 2; 1; 1 Average score: 1.1 2.7. Local and regional independent news agencies gather and distribute their information for all media. Analysis: There are no independent news agencies (both national and regional) in Mozambique that collect and distribute information to all media. SCORES: Individual scores: 1; 1; 1; 1; 1; 1; 1; 1; 1; 1 Average score: 1.0 2.8. Media diversity is promoted through adequate competition regulation/legislation. Analysis: Reality shows that diversity is not promoted through clear rules of competition and adequate laws, as is the case with those against monopoly. The “Independent Society of Communication” (SOICO), proprietor of Stv, Sfm, FamaMagazine and the weekly publication “O País” (The Country), is a commendable case of this situation. Stv, not being able to acquire a licence for the whole country, which is legally the monopoly of the public broadcasters (RM e TVM), it eventually requested separate licences for each one of the provinces, ending up with repeater stations throughout the country, with some exceptions. There is no proof that such a situation could promote diversity. On the other hand SOICO “is in all” because there is no anti monopoly law. It operates in the television, radio and print media. SCORES: Individual scores: 3; 2; 3; 2; 3; 2; 2; 3; 2; 3 Average score: 2.5 2.9. Government promotes a political and economic environment which allows a diverse media landscape. Analysis: As far as the political environment is concerned, the situation is good. But economically the government does very little or nothing to promote media diversity. That can be explained by the fact that Mozambique is a country in transition towards a multiparty and liberal democracy. Up to the very recent past Mozambique was a country guided by Marxist-Leninist ideology. SCORES: Individual scores: 3; 2; 2; 3; 3; 2; 2; 2; 2; 2 Average score: 2.3 So This Is Democracy? 2007 -182- Media Institute of Southern Africa