SECTOR 1 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: 4.7 (2012 = 3.5; 2010 = 4.2; 2008 = 3.1; 2006 = 2.5) 1.11 Media legislation evolves from meaningful consultations among state institutions, citizens and interest groups. There has not been new media legislation since the last AMB (2012) although there have been a few amendments to existing legislation. Generally, when laws are made, “it all happens in a black box. There are no inputs or anything, and the policymakers make the decisions. There is no meaningful consultation.” Where consultation does take place (oftentimes at short notice and without an active invitation for participation), it is not entirely meaningful because “little that was shared at those consultations is actually incorporated into the final legislation.” The Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI) process provides an interesting case in point, in that on the positive side, broad consultation took place to bring about important recommendations to government on restrictive media laws that need to be reviewed or repealed. However, while the process was consultative, some felt that it was simply window-dressing, to appease people. The important indicator of whether the process was successful will be the implementation of the findings, which have not been acted upon to date. “I’m not too optimistic that government will take everything (from the IMPI report). They had their consultations, with many people and lots of good input, but when they came out, no changes were made.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2015 23