SECTOR 4 Negative developments in the media environment: o The constitution-making process is stalling too frequently and there is no progress in national healing. o The Inclusive Government has failed to implement the Global Political Agreement in its entirety, particularly in regard to the licensing of private and community broadcasters, and has not shown the political will to do so. o The GPA entrenches controversial laws such as the Broadcasting Services Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. o Pieces of legislation such as AIPPA, POSA and the Criminal (Codification & Reform) Act have still not been amended or repealed. o Arrests of journalists are continuing. o Conditions are still not conducive for the return of exiled journalists. o Litigation as a tool to cripple media organisations by bleeding the private media of their resources is ongoing. o The establishment of the state-controlled Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) compromises the drive for self-regulation by the media. o Internet access is prohibitively expensive and therefore unaffordable to the majority. o There are still some official state functions that the private media are excluded from. Activities needed over the next few years: o o o o o o 70 Lobby for clear and unambiguous guarantees of freedom of expression and the media as well as the right to access to information in the new constitution. Lobby for the scrapping of the Zimbabwe Media Commission in the new constitution. While the ZMC is still in existence, engage it in a way that will encourage commissioners to work honestly towards the promotion of media freedom and the application of international standards and best practice. Engage political parties and ministries in a similar fashion. Lobby for necessary changes in the Broadcasting Services Act as well as the dissolution and urgent replacement of the present illegally constituted board of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe. Organise protests and marches to urge the authorities to issue licenses for new radio stations, including community-based stations. Lobby for the urgent passing by Parliament of the Draft Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Bill developed by the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2010