The Media In Zimbabwe

2. Taking Control: Propaganda and Legislation

3. Press Coverage of the 2000 & 2002 Elections

In Zimbabwe, the ruling party, Zanu PF, and particularly the President of Zimbabwe, Cde Robert Mugabe, have imposed many legislative and political strictures on the national press in recent years, and have made access to the country difficult and dangerous for foreign journalists.

The purpose of this essay is to analyse and evaluate the government’s intensifying control of the media, and manipulation of other mass communication tools, in Zimbabwe, and to examine the political, social and economic consequences that these measures of absolute control have rendered.

Introduction: Contextualising Zimbabwe’s Political Climate

At this time, the people of Zimbabwe are faced with many hardships; the economy was, until recently, one of the strongest in Africa, but has been hugely undermined by political wrangling between the government and opposition parties. Massive inflation, escalating unemployment, and a marked decrease in GDP are having a di

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In her report of the days leading up to the 2002 Presidential Elections in Zimbabwe, South African reporter Karen MacGregor tells of “TV adverts dubbed ‘Reflections’, Zanu-PF aired old speeches by war heroes about colonialism, white racism, Zimbabwean nationalism and the land. ) (1998) Chronicle of the 20th Century, Chronicle Communications, London. However, by May, the rising political and racial tensions forced the cancellation of our programme.

Mutasa also writes at length in this article about the interference of the international press, as a result of the MDC’s dealings. Also, the integrity of Morgan Tsvangirai and other MDC party leaders was undermined at every turn, both in the state-controlled media, and – more directly – by ZANU-PF politicians. ‘The Zimbabwean state media has turned into the propaganda arm of the ruling party with little information on the viewpoints of the other political parties, or alternative opinions. The above headline refers to Minister Jonothan Moyo’s reaction. Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) (2003) Zanu PF supporters march in solidarity with President Mugabe (news item) [online], Available http://www. Another finding was that more than 25% of registered voters were dead, abroad or their whereabouts was unknown. To begin with, the official voter-turnout figures which were stated as being 2. It is, he says “full of reports of the alleged brutalization of members of the opposition in Zimbabwe [and is] accompanied by extensive condemnation of the ZANU-PF government.

Common topics in this essay:
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Approximate Word count = 6057
Approximate Pages = 24 (250 words per page double spaced)

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