SECTOR 1

1.4 The government makes every effort to honour
regional and international instruments on freedom of
expression and freedom of the media.
Zimbabwe has signed, amongst others, the African Charter, the SADC Principles
and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights, and the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an
Independent and Pluralistic Press.
However, “we sign and ratify these instruments, but they are not domesticated
so that people can benefit from the provision of these instruments.” “Even when
we domesticate, we only pick what we may, and leave out things that should be
promoting freedom of expression.”
Section 34 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution provides that “The State must ensure that
all international conventions, treaties and agreements to which Zimbabwe is a
party are incorporated into domestic law.”
Generally, citizens are unaware of the international instruments that government
has signed or ratified, although it was pointed out by one panellist that a list of
these instruments is available at the parliament library.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score:

2.4 (2012 = 1.6; 2010 = 1.0; 2008 = n/a;
2006 = n/a)

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2015

17

Select target paragraph3