State of the media in Southern Africa - 2004 officials for his death. They relied on a named source who has since distanced himself from the article. They were released on that same day on Zimbabwe $50 000 bail each. On June 8 2004, they were further remanded out of custody to August 14 2004. • ALERT Date: June 6, 2004 Persons/Institutions: Taxpayers of Zimbabwe Violation(s): Legislation (threatening) On June 6 2004, the government gazetted the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (Debt Assumption) Bill which seeks to pave the way for the state to take over the state broadcaster’s debt which runs into billions of Zimbabwe dollars. Under the Bill, the government will assume all obligations arising from the corporation’s agreements and instruments of debt owed to the various institutions to the tune of US1, 9million. The Act in part reads, Section 3(1) Subject to this Act the Minister responsible for Finance shall, on behalf of the state, assume responsibility for the discharge of(a) The outstanding obligations of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation under the agreement and instruments of debt specified in the schedule; and (b) Such other obligation as he may consider expedient in relation to any such assumption specified in the schedule; And may give written authority to any person to sign and execute as his representative any undertaking, agreement or document pursuant to any such assumption or responsibility. (1) The terms and conditions under which the minister assumes responsibility in terms of section (2) for the discharge of any obligation under or in relation to any agreement or instrument specified in the Schedule shall be fixed by the minister with the consent of the creditor concerned. The Corporation embarked on a major restructuring exercise in 2001 which culminated in the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (Commercialization) Act passed in 2001. The act split the ZBC into two companies, i.e the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) and Transmedia, a signal transmission service provider. ZBH has since been split into business units which are financially independent and are expected to sustain their operations from revenue generated. The corporation has however continued to face serious financial problems as evidenced by failure to pay service providers and also delays in paying salaries to employees. • ALERT Date: June 6, 2004 Persons/Institutions: Africa Tribune Newspapers (ATN) (Pvt) Ltd (The Tribune) Violation(s): Censored The government appointed Media and Information Commission (MIC) has shut down the media house, The Africa Tribune Newspapers, (ATN) publishers of “The Tribune” newspaper on allegations of breaching section 67 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). MIC closed the paper in terms of section of section 71 of AIPPA. In a press statement, MIC chairperson Tafataona Mahoso says that the media house breached section 67 which stipulates that the commission must be informed of any changes in the titles, frequency and ownership of a licensed Media house. MIC says the media house failed to: 1. Report material changes in terms of section 67 2. Failure to answer critical questions once the opportunity to do so was provided. 3. Misrepresentation of important information in an attempt to mislead the Commission. MIC says as a result of the reasons provided, the newspaper will be shut down for a year. The So This Is Democracy? 2004 148 Media Institute of Southern Africa