State of the media in Southern Africa - 2004 by the Mail and Guardian and Sunday Times of South Africa. The Southern Times has, however, failed to generate the anticipated readership as it relies heavily on stories filed by the State-controlled New Ziana news agency. This has resulted in very low circulation figures. If the trend of cross-newspaper ownership is allowed to continue, with certain prominent citizens acquiring shares or expressing interest in the existing private publications, the existing small space for alternative voices will soon be closed, dealing a severe blow to Zimbabwe’s quest for media diversity and pluralism. This will inevitably result in the creation of a cartel of untouchable business moguls who will use the media to advance their selfish political and economic interests. Journalists working together The year provided some exciting times for media associations as they for the first time forged closer links and worked together on various projects. The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), MISA Zimbabwe and the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) came together and established the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe to co-ordinate media related activities. One of MAZ’s objectives is ensuring that there is no duplication of activities. A new organisation called Zimbabwe Journalists for Human Rights was also formed during the course of the year. Conclusion In a research paper, Takirambudde (1995), said: “If democracy is based on rule by a majority of the population in a fair equitable society, then democratic institutions must work to empower people to make decisions within that society. “The ability of the governed to assert opinions without restraint is essential to this decisionmaking process. Media freedom is therefore critical to the establishment and continuity of democracy and becomes a primary indicator of the existence of a democratic society”. Media laws in Zimbabwe do not allow citizens to assert opinions without restraint and it is critical that they be revisited. So This Is Democracy? 2004 139 Media Institute of Southern Africa