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:

3.9 (2010:2.9; 2008:n/a; 2006:n/a)

1.11 Civil society in general and media lobby groups
actively advance the cause of media freedom.
There are numerous media organisations in Zimbabwe that strongly advocate
for media freedom issues. These include the Media Institute of Southern Africa
- Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA), the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), the
Zimbabwe Independent Editors Forum (ZINEF), the Media Monitoring Project of
Zimbabwe (MMPZ), the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZiNEF), the Zimbabwe
Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS), the Community Newspapers
Association of Zimbabwe (CANAZ) and the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe
(VMCZ)
Their advocacy efforts have been strengthened by the formation of the Media
Alliance of Zimbabwe which brings together MISA, ZUJ and the MMPZ. The three
organisations maintain their independence and operate as separate entities in
their daily work but unite on media freedom and freedom of expression issues.
Model laws have been drafted by MISA with positive contributions from civil
society and media lobbying groups and these have been presented to the
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Communication, Parliament
itself and the Senate. In addition, workshops have been held for lawmakers to
give them a better understanding of numerous media freedom issues including
self regulation.
Civil society has actively and strongly pushed the media freedom agenda and
participated in media related events. The extent to which they can support media
freedom depends on their financial resources. Often they may provide support in
principle and join the lobbying and advocacy activities but their priorities will be
focused on their core work.
Advocacy around media freedom issues has focused primarily on the promotion
of privately owned media. As a result media practitioners working for state

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2012

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