SECTOR 1 Since the formation of the Inclusive Government in 2009 there have been reports of new laws in the making to replace AIPPA, such as the Freedom of Information Act and the Media Practitioners Act. No actual steps have been taken in this direction though. 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: 1.6 (2010:1.0; 2008: n/a; 2006: n/a) 1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities. Print publications are required to obtain permission from the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) under section 66 and 90 of AIPPA. Failure to comply with the registration requirement is a criminal offence attracting a fine or imprisonment of up to eighteen months. Only in-house newsletters as well as parliamentary and religious publications are exempt from this requirement. Media houses have to pay significant fees on applying for registration and rather steep statutory levies on an annual basis. When the ZMC was formed in 2009, media organisations were opposed to the Commission because it is administered under the contested AIPPA and because, as a statutory body, it contravenes the principle of self-regulation of the media. For the time being, however, they are tolerating its existence “grudgingly” because it provides the only available legal way to get new print media on the streets. Virtually all print media organisations that applied to the Zimbabwe Media Commission have been granted licences, with the exception of a few applicants who did not comply with the requirements contained in the law. Over 30 media houses have been registered since the establishment of the Zimbabwe Media Commission. For instance, media organisations whose majority shareholding was comprised of non-Zimbabweans when AIPPA specifically stipulates that the controlling stake in a registered Media House should be with a Zimbabwean or Zimbabweans. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2012 17