FOTP 2013 Full Report

import duties and taxes), printing, and distribution remain very high, hampering print outlets’ability to increase their readership. The government sometimes uses advertising as a tool toinfluence media content and coverage. Only 13 percent of the population accessed the internet in2012 due to high costs.ZimbabweStatus: Not FreeLegal Environment: 25Political Environment: 26Economic Environment: 26Total Score: 77Survey Edition 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Total Score, Status 89,NF 88,NF 84,NF 81,NF 80,NFPress freedom in Zimbabwe remained restricted in 2012, as promised reforms to liberalize thelegal and regulatory environment after years of authoritarian abuse were stalled by PresidentRobert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party, whichwas entrenched in the executive branch and continued to exercise control over the nominallyinclusive government of national unity formed in 2009. Legal harassment and attempts to extendregulatory controls over journalists, particularly those who work for the few independent printmedia outlets, were still primary concerns. Nevertheless, positive changes during the yearincluded a decline a physical attacks and a modest increase in media diversity and viewpoints asa result of new private radio stations.Despite constitutional provisions for freedom of expression, a draconian legal frameworkcontinues to inhibit the activities of journalists and media outlets. The 2002 Access toInformation and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) requires all journalists and media companiesto register and gives the information minister sweeping powers to decide which publications canoperate legally and who is able to work as a journalist. Unlicensed journalists can face criminalcharges and a sentence of up to two years in prison. In addition, the Official Secrets Act, thePublic Order and Security Act (POSA), and the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Actseverely limit what journalists may publish and mandate harsh penalties—including long prisonsentences—for violators. The 2007 Interception of Communications Act allows officials tointercept telephonic and electronic communications and to monitor their content to prevent a“serious offense” or a “threat to national security.”Authorities continued to exploit these laws to harass and punish journalists in 2012.Criminal defamation charges filed in July 2011 against Nevanji Madanhire, editor of the weeklyStandard, and two other staff members at the paper remained in limbo throughout 2012, pendinga Supreme Court decision on the case. Meanwhile, a number of politicians from all parties andother prominent figures continued to file defamation cases against journalists, under either thecriminal code or civil laws, demanding exorbitant amounts in damages. Although many cases aredismissed by the courts, charges can remain pending for months, leading to hardships for thejournalists involved.417