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: 1.0 (2008: n/a ; 2006:n/a) 1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities. Analysis: Print publications have to be registered with the General Post Office. This Print media are required to obtain a license to operate as required by AIPPA from the newly formed Zimbabwe Media Commission created through Constitutional Amendment 19. Media organisations are opposed to the ZMC as it will administer the repressive AIPPA and because its very existence contradicts the notion of self-regulation of the media and critically weakens the position of the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe. For the time being, however, media houses and associations as well as civil society organisations have accepted the Commission grudgingly as the only available legal vehicle to get new print media on the streets. Media organisations take some comfort from the fact that there seems to be balanced representation on the repressive body. There is also acknowledgement that the commissioners were appointed in a slightly more transparent manner than those of its predecessor set up under AIPPA, the Media and Information Commission (MIC). Previously the minister in charge of information had absolute control and discretion over who was to be appointed. In the case of ZMC Commissioners, advertisements were placed in the media calling for nominations and applications to be made to Parliament, which then called candidates in for interviews held in public. A list of 12 candidates was passed on to President Mugabe for him to choose and appoint nine as commissioners. After a drawn-out controversy, the final decision was made not by Mugabe alone but by the chairpersons of the three parties in government (“each party got its names ”). The names were then AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2010 19