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Sleight of hand: A report on the repression of the media in Zimbabwe
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
May 26, 2010

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The Global Political Agreement (GPA), which in February 2009 created a power-sharing government between the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), raised expectations for human rights reforms in Zimbabwe. The promised reforms included expanded media freedom and the protection of journalists, which are critical for creating an open, democratic, and transparent society.

Under article 17 of the power-sharing agreement, for example, the parties expressed a desire to open up the airwaves and operate as many media houses as possible. Article 19 of the agreement recognized the importance of the right to free expression and acknowledged the role of the media in a multi-party democracy. ZANU-PF and MDC agreed that they would systematically process and grant broadcasting applications to journalists and media houses.

More than a year into the implementation of the GPA, these reforms remain unfulfilled, and freedom of expression is imperiled in Zimbabwe. In the past year alone, some 15 different journalists have been harassed, arbitrarily arrested, or assaulted by state security forces in Zimbabwe. Five separate pieces of legislation restricting free expression remain on the books and are enforced. The laws, which are used only against ZANU-PF's critics, exist in violation of Zimbabwe's obligations under international law, under its constitution, and according to commitments under the GPA to undertake media reform. ZANU-PF continues to rely on these laws, and the state-controlled media itself, to promote political propaganda and restrict independent information about the party.

As recently as March 2010, journalists in Zimbabwe have been arrested for covering peaceful protest marches, writing articles about internal ZANU-PF politics, reporting on regional economic conferences, or discussing Zimbabwe's land policy. Journalists who dare to cover such topics face detention, torture, and harassment, which serves to quash dissent or even balanced reporting, leading to self-censorship among the media. Writing that is broadly construed as being insulting to the president or ZANU-PF is punished.

Superficially, the power-sharing government has made a few positive changes. It has initiated a Parliament-led constitutional review process, lifted restrictions on a previously banned daily newspaper (which still does not have a license to operate), and in February 2010 established the Zimbabwe Media Commission. Sleight of Hand 2 ZANU-PF has sought to portray these changes as indicative of genuine progress in the protection and promotion of human rights in Zimbabwe. At its congress in December 2009, the party reaffirmed its commitment to access to information, media freedom, and freedom of expression. On March 3, 2010, Minister of Justice (ZANU-PF) Patrick Chinamasa, in a speech at the United Nations, cited the appointments of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, as well as the Electoral Commission and the Human Rights Commission, as evidence of Zimbabwe's progress in improving the promotion and protection of human rights.

In practice, however, the former sole ruling party has blocked meaningful political changes that would safeguard those rights. In terms of creating a true coalition government or granting greater freedoms, the reforms have been largely inconsequential. President Mugabe and ZANU-PF continue to enjoy sweeping powers and the capacity to undo reforms without notice. They use control of the media to maintain a firm grip on power in Zimbabwe. In the past year, not one independent television or radio station has received a license to operate.

Many Zimbabweans continue to lack both political freedom and accurate, non-partisan information about the state of the country and the activities of government. This deficit is particularly worrisome, as Zimbabwe, faced with a paralyzed coalition government, now envisions elections in 2011. Without media and other reforms protecting human rights, Zimbabwe remains at risk of repeating the horrific election violence of 2008, out of which the tenuous power-sharing government was created when ZANU-PF blocked an MDC electoral victory. Lacking political freedom, Zimbabweans are likely to again face serious obstacles to political participation without fear of violent retribution.

The government of Zimbabwe should take immediate steps to end continuing abuses against the media as part of a broader effort to create the necessary constitutional and electoral framework envisaged in the GPA. Media freedom, an elemental human right that was also promised by the parties to the GPA, is urgently needed as a precursor to the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections that can truly reflect the political will of Zimbabweans.

Human Rights Watch also calls on the region's governments-particularly South Africa-and other concerned states to press for legal measures to ensure media freedom and the protection of journalists, civil society actors, and ordinary Zimbabweans who dare to express their views. The SADC-appointed mediators, South Africa President Jacob Zuma and his facilitation team, have great potential to push parties to the GPA to deliver genuine reforms and produce a lasting solution to Zimbabwe's crisis. By publicly focusing more on lifting sanctions than on meaningful change in Zimbabwe, President Zuma has squandered an important opportunity to reflect and realize the aspirations of the many Zimbabweans who believed that the power-sharing agreement would restore their freedom and voice.

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