SECTOR 3 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: 1.8 (2010:1.3; 2008:1.1; 2006:1.0) 3.2 Broadcasting is regulated by an independent body adequately protected by law against interference whose board is appointed - in an open way - involving civil society and not dominated by any particular political party. The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) cannot be considered independent and there is no deliberate protection against political interference. The argument has been made that BAZ is dominated by one particular political party, namely ZANU PF, and it is difficult to challenge that allegation. The Broadcasting Services Act 2001 in its section 3 establishes the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) as the regulatory and licensing authority for the sector. An Amendment Act of 2003 gives the BAZ the power to grant licences. The authority’s board consists of twelve members, nine of whom are appointed by the President after consultation with the minister in charge of broadcasting and (to some extent) on the basis of a list submitted by Parliament’s Committee on Standing Rules and Orders. The remaining three members are appointed by the President from a list of six nominees suggested by the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders. The current board was unilaterally appointed by the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity Webster Shamu (ZANU PF) in September 2009, with the former chair of the highly controversial Media and Information Commission, Dr Tafataona Mahoso, as chairperson. These appointments were immediately contested and the legality and legitimacy of the board is considered doubtful. The lack of transparency in the manner in which the board was constituted has been questioned along with the lack of consultation with the MDC component of government. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2012 39