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This article participates on the following special index pages:

  • 2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles


  • Government-controlled media coverage of election campaigns for February 2008
    Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ)
    Extracted from the MMPZ presentation to the Diplomatic Community

    March 12, 2008

    National Public Broadcaster - ZBC
    Television
    ZTV afforded a total of 202 minutes to ZANU PF electoral preparations in its main news bulletins (7am, 6pm and 8pm) during the month of February. It allocated nine minutes to the MDC and 26 minutes to Makoni and four minutes to other political parties.

    In terms of the number of stories, the national public broadcaster devoted 93 reports to the ruling party, 86 of which were positive and seven were neutral. None was critical.

    There were four reports on the MDC's activities (both factions); (one positive, one negative and two neutral)
    It devoted 15 stories to Simba Makoni, five of which were fair and the rest negative.

    The station aired three stories on other, smaller parties (two of which were favorable because they involved a pro-ZANU PF party [the Zimbabwe Development Party].

    Radio

    Spot FM
    This station devoted 50 reports to ZANU PF (all favourable) in its main news bulletins (7am, 1pm, 6pm and 8pm). There were only two reports on the MDC's activities; one favourable and one neutral.

    Radio Zimbabwe
    This station covered the ruling party's activities in its daily news bulletins (as above) with 68 stories, 67 clearly supportive of ZANU PF, while one was neutral. There were three reports on the MDC, two were negative and one was neutral.

    Newspapers

    The Herald
    1 February - 29 February 2008

    ZANU PF
    54 stories:...39 news stories, 13 editorials, two interviews.
    All positive

    MDC (both factions)
    24 stories:...19 news stories, five editorials.

    12 neutral stories and 12 negative stories and editorials

    Simba Makoni
    19 stories:...Nine news stories, 10 editorials.
    All negative

    Other parties
    Three stories: 3 news


    The Sunday Mail - February 2008

    ZANU PF
    10 stories: Five editorials, five news stories.
    All positive

    MDC (both factions)
    Three stories: One negative story, one neutral story, and one negative editorial.

    Makoni
    Five stories: Three news stories, two editorials.
    All negative

    Other parties
    One story:...One negative news story

    * None of the interviews The Herald and Sunday Mail recorded were on opposition or independent candidates.


    The Chronicle - February 2008

    ZANU PF
    The paper published 43 stories:...39 positive reports; four were neutral.

    The MDC (both factions)
    received coverage in 12 reports, 11 negative/critical and one neutral.

    Simba Makoni
    received coverage in 10 stories, all of which were negative.

    There was just one neutral story on other smaller parties.

    * The paper did not record any opposition interview.

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