WAY FORWARD The way forward 1. What were the developments in the media environment in the last three/four years? Positive 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The media provisions in the new constitution – including the establishment of a constitutional court; The idea and outcomes of IMPI, as an attempt to solve some of the problems in the media landscape; Licensing of new players in the broadcast sector; Growth in ICTs, and increases in the mobile penetration rate; A marked increase in online newspapers; The outcome of the 2014 Criminal Defamation ruling, in which criminal defamation was struck down as unconstitutional; and Coming into the final stages of the broadcasting digital migration process Negative 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The closure of some media houses (including Zimbabwe Mail, Southern Eye, The Zimbabwean and Flame News); The worsening economic situation and its repercussions on the media; Threats on private media by politicians, including the first family; The unprecedented arrest of state media officials; The on-going harassment of media workers; The arrest of citizens for expressing their opinions freely (including Itai Dzamara); and Labour issues – for example the lack of contracts for many media workers resulting in limited job security; large income disparities between editors and reporters; the continued absence of internal policies on gender, corruption, etc; and so forth 2. What kinds of activities are needed over the next 3-4 years? – o o o 64 Media advocacy on the following issues: Media ethics classes in all training institutions; The elimination of gender disparities in the media (action could be led by FAMWZ); and The alignment of media laws to the provisions in the constitution. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2015