MISA-Zimbabwe ___________________________________________________________________ State of the Media Report 2008 In the Report: Introduction Media Environment Print Media Broadcasting/Telecommunications Conclusion Media Violations Statistics: 2007 v Introduction In its State of the Media Report for 2007, MISA Zimbabwe noted that the media environment in Zimbabwe remained tenuous and inimical to media freedom as well as freedom of expression. In the same period that was then under review, Zimbabwe’s political and economic environment had deteriorated to the extent that it warranted the intervention of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through a mediation process that was to see the main political parties in Zimbabwe negotiate a Constitutional Amendment Number 18 in lieu of elections that were scheduled for early 2008. In the immediate aftermath of this amendment, the political parties also agreed to amend three of the most infamous media laws in SADC, these being, The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Broadcasting Services Act and the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) in tandem with the Electoral Act. Indeed, as with any mediated process, there was hope and anticipation not only on the part of the Zimbabwean people but also in particular, its media fraternity that these amendments would yield democratic reforms to the regulation of the media, not only just for the elections scheduled for March 2008, but beyond. With the benefit of hindsight, and as this State of the 1