Zimbabwe SCORES: Individual scores: 2, 2, 3, 1, 1, 4, 2, 2, 3 Average score: 2.2 3.11 The public broadcaster offers balanced and fair information reflecting the full spectrum of diverse views and opinions. ANALYSIS The broadcaster is biased towards advancing the cause of the ruling party and government. There is a lot of reporting on the President, Government and the ruling party. Typically, news stories start off by saying: “The government warns the public”, “The Minister urges civil servants”, “ZANU(PF) cautions against …” etc., regurgitating statements at state functions and ruling party meetings. International news are now sanitised to meet ZANU(PF)’s ideology. To this end video material originating from a foreign news agency, even though in English, now carries a local voice-over to give the story the required spin. Previously such clips were transmitted as they appeared on BBC or CNN or any other source. Most news in the field of arts is used to push propagandist party ideas. For example, to get profiled as a leading artist, he or she needs to have the correct affiliation. Others are used to demonstrate a political point, e.g. to show “the double standards” of western countries. SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 Average score: 1.0 African Media Barometer - Zimbabwe 2006 29