But despite promises of reform expressed by members of the transitional government since its formation, Zimbabweans still have very little to celebrate. To this day - 15 months after the formation of the GNU - there is no significant change to the “information wasteland” that constitutes Zimbabwe’s media environment, than that which existed at the time of the country’s fateful 2008 elections.

In fact, instead of reforms, the nation has been subjected to the unilateral expansion of state media institutions while the authorities have continued to threaten private media initiatives that would have given Zimbabwean society the “free and diverse media environment” promised in the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

The official appointment of members to the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) in February and promises of reforms at the national broadcaster appear, at first sight, to be the first positive steps in the paralyzed process of implementing genuine media reforms. But on closer examination and enquiry, MMPZ notes that as of last Wednesday the ZMC still has none of the material necessary to process journalists’ and media houses’ applications for registration and that the government budget for the ZMC’s operations remains negligible.

And news recently carried in The Financial Gazette (22/4) that the coalition parties had allegedly agreed to reform the national broadcaster, ZBC, also appear to be a mirage on closer examination. For instead of genuine media reforms that will free the broadcaster from the blatant political control that has so damaged the quality and credibility of its programming, The Gazette reported that the coalition parties had merely agreed in their report to talks mediator and South African President, Jacob Zuma, to direct the public media “to support all agreed government policies and programmes and support all ministers of government in the implementation” of these policies and “refrain, desist and cease all attacks on government ministers when such ministers implement” these policies.

This is “sham” reform, as only Zimbabweans know it. They are illusions of real reforms demanded by the Zimbabwean public to give the impression that government is at last moving to free Zimbabwe’s suffocated information sector. This deceitful “conjuring trick” is reinforced by the self -evident failure of government to fulfill its own promise to introduce new laws to replace existing repressive media legislation, including those contained in the Prime Minister’s work plan for 2010 that includes the repeal of the notorious AIPPA and a reform of the broadcasting laws.

MMPZ believes that until the government demonstrates its resolve to rid society of these obscene restrictions on freedom of expression, Zimbabweans will never have that “free and diverse media environment” so blithely promised by the parties to the GPA.

THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES

The visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to open this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), which intensified friction between the inclusive governments, was the hottest topic of the week. But thanks to the government media’s saturation coverage of the trade fair, this was the story that attracted the greatest number of reports, followed by equally optimistic investment stories.

While the government media devoted most reports to the exhibition, which they depicted as an overwhelming success, citing the alleged increase in investor confidence in Zimbabwe, the private media reported trade at the ZITF as having remained low owing to prevailing political uncertainties. Increasing cases of human rights violations against perceived opponents of the ZANU PF component of government, recorded by the private media, vindicated this.

Fig 1: Topical issues in the media

Ahmadinejad’s  visit stokes coalition tension, the MDC-T’s decision to boycott the arrival of controversial Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his address at the ZITF revealed sharp ideological differences between the two main parties in the inclusive government. All the government media gave positive publicity to Ahmadinejad’s visit and his attacks on the West. They also portrayed him as popular figure among Zimbabweans and a hero of the struggle against Western imperialism. None of them however, questioned the relevance of his visit considering his human rights record; viewed his attacks on the West as having the potential to undermine Zimbabwe’s efforts to normalize relations with the West, or dispassionately assessed the benefits of relations between Zimbabwe and Iran.

Instead of a neutral evaluation of the MDC-T’s decision to boycott the Iranian President, the government media vilified the move as more evidence of the party’s allegiance to Western nations opposed to Ahmadinejad’s leadership.

The Herald (23/4) & ZTV (23/4, 8pm), for example, viewed the boycott as an act of “solidarity” with the West while the “observers” they quoted accused the MDC-T of “simply dancing to the tune of Western countries”. ZTV & Radio Zimbabwe (23 & 24/4, 6am & 8pm) interviewed ordinary Zimbabweans and so-called “analysts” such as ZANU PF’s Gabriel Chaibva, Chris Mutsvangwa and Tafataona Mahoso “castigating” the MDC-T’s decision.

In contrast, the private media reported the reasons for the MDC-T’s boycott and viewed them as justified.

They included Ahmadinejad’s questionable re-election, poor human rights record and controversial nuclear programme, as well as ZANU PF’s unilateral invitation. The private media quoted analysts and the MDC-T arguing that Ahmadinejad’s visit was of little value to Zimbabwe and criticized the ZANU PF arm of government’s choice of friends, which they argued comprised rogue countries and those with bad human rights records. ZimOnline & The Zimbabwean On Sunday (23 & 25/4) quoted the MDC-T describing Ahmadinejad’s visit as a “colossal political scandal” that would “damage efforts to end Harare’s isolation from the international community”.

State media feast on ZITF

The government media portrayed the 51 edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair as a resounding success without clearly demonstrating how. They simply cited the alleged increase in foreign exhibitors, trade volumes and deals sealed without profiling the exhibitors, the quality of their products, or giving updates of trade figures. Neither did they provide statistical comparison with figures of the previous editions, apart from indicating that the number of exhibitors had increased (Spot FM, 20/4, 1pm).

The Sunday Mail (25/4) reported the ZITF as having ended on a “high note” , citing the participation of more exhibitors, 153 of which were foreign companies from countries such as Iran, China, Britain, South Africa and Indonesia while Spot FM (20/4, 1 pm) simply described the fair as “bigger and better”.

Apart from celebrating the fact that Ahmadinejad had opened the show, the government media praised the signing of several trade agreements between Iran and Zimbabwe, including the opening of a tractor factory in Harare.

The private media performed little better.

The Zimbabwe Independent (23/4), for example, reported business as having been “low” during the first three days of the exhibition without clearly disclosing how. There was also confusion in the government and private media over which country had the highest number of companies at the ZITF.

While the Independent reported Iranian companies as having dominated the showcase with 40 out of the 153 foreign companies participating, Radio Zimbabwe (20/4, 8pm) claimed that South Africa had the highest number of companies without disclosing the figure.

Contrary to government media reports that investors had expressed significant interest in the country, ZimOnline, the Independent & The Zimbabwean On Sunday & (22, 23 & 25/4) quoted Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai admitting that “conflicting messages” from government and a “lack of consultation” had fuelled uncertainty over Zimbabwe’s economic direction that discouraged much-needed investment to rebuild the economy.

THE MOST QUOTED VOICES

The amount of publicity the government media gave to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the ZITF was reflected by the frequency with which they accessed his comments, followed by President Mugabe.

Both were quoted showering praises on relations between their countries, which they described as symbiotic, and condemned the West for allegedly interfering in the affairs of developing countries and imposing sanctions on countries that allegedly resisted. ZANU PF ministers Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs) and Saviour Kasukuwere (Indigenization) and MDC-M’s Industry Minister Welshman Ncube, also attracted significant attention. Mumbengegwi was commenting on efforts to normalise relations with the West, claiming that Zimbabwe was now safe for investment, while Ncube was quoted speaking about government’s efforts to revamp the economy.

Mugabe and Ahmadinejad were widely quoted in the private media criticizing the West’s sanctions, although Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was the most quoted. MDC-T Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Kasukuwere trailed closely. Tsvangirai was complaining about slow progress in fulfilling the terms of the power-sharing agreement. Biti was quoted speaking about government’s efforts to revive the economy.

Fig 2: Individuals quoted in the government media

Fig 3: Individuals quoted in the private media

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

The government media continued to censor incidents of human rights violations. They recorded only one. The private media reported 18 new incidents, including;

The harassment of Timothy Chiminya, son of MDC activist Tichaona Chiminya who was murdered in political violence 10 years ago, and the burning of a house belonging to another MDC-T supporter Esnath Dhliwayo by suspected ZANU PF youths in Glen Norah (SW Radio Africa & The Zimbabwean On Sunday, 24 & 25/4);

Threats against Chipinge magistrate Thomas Masendeke by illegal settlers led by ZANU PF officials after he had ordered their eviction from an estate they invaded eight years ago (The Standard , 25/4);

Harassment of a white former commercial farmer in Chegutu by ZANU PF supporters (The Zimbabwean On Tuesday, 20/4); and The arrest of two MDC-T officials for allegedly disrespecting provincial governor Martin Dinha in Bindura (SW Radio Africa, 20/4).