SECTOR 1 1.8 Public information is easily accessible, guaranteed by law, to all citizens. In theory the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) legislates for the easy retrieval of information by the general public and even more specifically for ‘accredited’ journalists. According to AIPPA’s section 78 (1) (b) an accredited journalist will: be given prior access or privileged access to records to which access is permitted in terms of this Act or to such other records or documents as may be prescribed … This, of course, contradicts section 39 (1) (c) of AIPPA which tasks the Zimbabwe Media Commission “to ensure that the people of Zimbabwe have equitable and wide access to information” (emphasis by author). The same section under (m) also empowers the Commission to authorise a public body, at the request of its head, to disregard requests that would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public body … In reality it is difficult to obtain information from government departments and other public bodies. Heads of public bodies are allowed to refuse the release of information “if granting access to a … record is not in the public interest”. Such a catch-all provision gives departments a free hand to deal with requests for information at their own discretion. The process of obtaining information is bureaucratic and involves a written request to the relevant public body which then has 30 days to reply. If the request is not responded to within 30 days the person requesting information can complain to the minister heading the department. For journalists working on a deadline, this is a laborious process that impacts negatively on the quality of their output. 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: 20 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2012 2.5 (2010:1.9; 2008:1.2; 2006:1.1)