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Print and Electronic Daily Media Update #4
Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe
March 25th, 2005

ZTV gave independent candidate for Mbare Dunmore Makuwaza another five minutes to air his manifesto to the electorate after its main news bulletin. Makuwaza was earlier accorded the same opportunity on March 1.

a. Campaigns
ZANU PF continued to have unparalleled publicity on ZBH news bulletins. For example, of the 18 reports ZTV carried in its main 6pm and 8pm bulletins, 13 (72%) were on ZANU PF campaigns. One (5,5%) was on the MDC, two (11%) on Zanu (Ndonga) and two (11%) were on independent candidate Margaret Dongo. Other small parties and independent candidates were not covered.

The ruling party's campaign activities constituted most of the airtime ZTV allocated to campaigns. Of the 36 minutes devoted to the contesting parties', 28 minutes (78%) were allocated to ZANU PF, two minutes (6%) to the MDC, another two minutes and 50 seconds (7%) to Zanu (Ndonga) and the remaining three minutes and 10 seconds (9%) to Dongo. All but two ZANU PF campaign stories were on rallies addressed by the party's presidium, which vilified the MDC as a "sellout" party that was being used by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to effect regime change in Zimbabwe. The remaining story was a ruling party campaign rally in Glen View addressed by a member of an obscure US based organisation and ZANU PF ally, December 12 Movement. ZANU PF candidate for the constituency also addressed the same rally. Similarly, Radio Zimbabwe carried three campaign stories, all of which were on ZANU PF. The MDC and other contesting parties were not covered.

Voice distribution

Power FM's coverage also heavily favoured ZANU PF in nine stories it carried on campaigns. Eight of its reports were on the ruling party while one story was on the MDC. In contrast, Studio 7 carried three campaign stories. Two were on President Mugabe's rallies while one report featured profiles of MDC candidate Milton Gwetu and an independent candidate Leonard Nkala who are all contesting the Phelandaba/Mpopoma seat. ZANU-PF's candidate for the constituency Sikhanyiso Ndlovu was also accorded the same opportunity but declined saying he could not speak to a "station based in a country that has imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe".

While ZBH merely quoted members of ZANU PF's presidium castigating the MDC without giving the opposition the right to reply, Studio 7 tried to balance its reports. For instance, it sought comment from the MDC's ousted Harare mayor Elias Mudzuri on President Mugabe's claims that MDC councils had failed to run the country's major cities. Citing Harare as an example, Mudzuri noted that, contrary to Mugabe's claims, government's interference in the running of local authorities had led to poor service delivery in the cities. SW Radio Africa carried one campaign related report, an update on the campaign activities of the MDC candidate for Chimanimani, Heather Bennett, and the overall situation in the constituency.

b. Administrative issues
ZBH (ZTV, Radio Zimbabwe and Power FM) continued to gloss over the flaws in the country's electoral process, presenting the electoral environment as conducive for a free and fair election in the 14 stories it carried on administrative issues. The broadcaster quoted the police, local observers and political analysts all saying the prevailing peace was conducive for a free and fair poll and claimed that the prevailing electoral environment was an indication that Zimbabwe was a "mature democracy", capable of holding democratic elections. No comment was sought from the opposition or independent candidates on their views on the electoral process.

In fact, the broadcaster's attempts to suffocate concerns over the country's electoral process resulted in Power FM passively quoting Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa Simon Khaya Moyo dismissing the demonstration by Zimbabweans in that country over the authorities' decision to deny them their right to vote as an attempt "to make a mockery of the March election" by "sponsored exiles". The station failed to seek comment from the protestors or independent commentators on the matter.

Studio 7 carried one report on administrative issues. The report was on a meeting between MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and the South African Government Observer Mission. The station quoted MDC Foreign Affairs secretary Priscilla Misihairabwi saying the meeting was "a normal diplomatic courtesy call...and not really a meeting". She was however, not challenged for clarity on what she meant. SW Radio Africa did not carry any report on the topic.

c. Political violence and intimidation
THERE were no reports of incidents of political violence and intimidation on ZBH. But the broadcaster carried nine reports, which quoted the police, political scientists and local observers (one from Zimbabwe Election Support Network and the other from Indigenous Business Development Corporation) all hailing the prevailing peace.

In contrast, Studio 7 carried two incidents of arrests and intimidation of MDC candidates and the electorate. One of the reports was on the arrests of Trudy Stevenson and Murisi Zwizwai, the MDC candidates for Harare North and Harare Central respectively. The two were arrested for distributing campaign flyers. Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena confirmed Stevenson's arrest saying she had been charged for "disrupting the smooth flow of traffic" and fined $20,000. The other report was on the heavy deployment of police and soldiers in Gwanda and Tsholotsho, a development the station viewed as an attempt to intimidate the electorate. However, MDC Secretary-General Welshman Ncube was quoted saying the deployment could have been meant for President Mugabe's security during his campaigns in the two areas. No comment was sought from the relevant authorities.

SW Radio Africa carried one report on the arrest of Zwizwai. The station reported that Zwizai was arrested after an MDC meeting in Harare and was released following the intervention of a South African observer team.

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