SECTOR 1

1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities.
Print publications are required to obtain a licence through the Zimbabwe Media
Commission (ZMC) in order to publish. A fee of USD 2,000 is required in order to
obtain this licence.

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:

1.3 (2012 = 2.1; 2010 = 1.0; 2008 = n/a;
2006 = n/a)

1.6 Confidential sources of information are protected
by law and/or the courts.
The confidentiality of sources of information is guaranteed in Section 61(2) of the
Constitution, which states that “Every person is entitled to freedom of the media,
which freedom includes protection of the confidentiality of journalists’ sources of
information.”
However, panellists were divided on the extent to which this provision is put into
practice.
One panellist noted that “I am not aware of any cases in which journalists were
forced to reveal their sources.” However, others cited incidences where the
confidentiality of sources could have been compromised.
In March 2015, for example, there was a raid on The Source news agency following
the granting of search and seizure order to Econet (and its banking unit, Steward
Bank) by the High Court, filed ex parte, to retrieve information from the agency
that may potentially have had information on the source. The constitutionality of
the raid – particularly with respect to the freedom of expression by the media –
was questioned by The Source and its lawyers.

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2015

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