the state but from within. Those who act as informers are usually part of the community and so the pervading feeling is that there is always someone listening. Some scope for self expression does exist. Critical publications are allowed, with their reach more or less confined to the small elites in the country. The assumption seems to be that they cater for specific audiences only and will not influence the majority of the people. Independent weeklies have a self-reported circulation of 37 000, compared to the titles published by Zimpapers which is majority-owned by government: 66 000 for weeklies (plus a print-run of 62 000 for dailies). Over the years Zimpapers publications have come under the direct control of the Ministry of Information and specific government officials and they are still regarded as the mouthpieces of ZANU PF. The state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation still has a monopoly over the airwaves. According to the ZBC Act of 2001 members of the ZBC board are appointed by the minister in charge of broadcasting. The ZANU PF deployed Minister of Media, Information and Publicity made the appointments in September 2009 without consultation with the MDC. The broadcaster’s reporting is biased towards ZANU PF, and the bulk of news reports centre on the activities of government officials, mostly those belonging to ZANU PF. There is very little actual news and ZBC never seems to carry opinions that are different from the official ZANU PF line. Quite a number of applications for radio licences have been received by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe. The BAZ, however, is not yet operational as appointments for a new board, announced by the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity in September 2009, have been challenged. Externally based radio stations are enjoying significant growth in popularity. The four stations use short wave for transmission. Their impact is hampered by the shortage of SW radio receivers and their limited broadcasting periods between one and two hours per day. Many journalists and editors in Zimbabwe seem to be operating in the manner of political party activists: if they work for state publications they generally push the ZANU PF line while those working for online or private media generally lean towards the MDC. There is a slippage in standards and journalists are grappling even with the basics. They have lost sight of what their role is and what they are supposed to do. Skilled media professionals at all levels have migrated to other countries leaving a vacuum that is hard to fill. Journalists in Zimbabwe practise self-censorship. Pressures and fears – real or perceived - guide the way a journalist operates in the newsroom. There is the possibility of losing one’s job or of physical threats. Censorship is being practiced 8 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2010