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elation to the Bill of Rights. They point out that, while it gives fundamental human rights andfreedoms, it also takes them away. For example, the constitution recognises freedom of association,but political parties are still outlawed.Zimbabwe – employing weapons of mass destructionThe government of Zimbabwe has at its disposal weapons of mass destruction against themedia in the form of the infamous Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA)and AIPPA Amendment Act, the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), as well as the BroadcastingServices Act (BSA).The government further reinforced its anti-media and free expression arsenal with the signinginto law of the Criminal (Codification and Reform) Bill on June 2, 2005 which makes it increasinglydifficult for the few remaining journalists who survived the implementation of AIPPAand POSA to perform their newsgathering tasks without fear or favour.Journalists now risk spending 20 years in jail as the new act introduces harsher penalties thanthose provided for under POSA and AIPPA. A journalist convicted of contravening Section 31 (a)of the act will be sentenced to jail for a period not exceeding 20 years or to a fine of up to Z$2,5million or to both such fine and imprisonment.Section 33 of the Codification Act is similar in all respects to Section 16 of POSA. It deals with“undermining the authority of or insulting the President”. It prohibits the making, publicly andintentionally, of any false statement (including an act or gesture) about or concerning the Presidentor Acting President if the person knows or realises that there is a risk or possibility ofendangering feelings of hostility towards or causing hatred, contempt or ridicule of him/her,whether in his/her official or personal capacity.Similarly, the General Laws Amendment Bill seeks to tighten POSA by increasing the penaltiesagainst journalists convicted for publishing statements that insult or undermine the authorityof the President.Ultimate control – ‘Mediagate’The Zimbabwean government’s overt strategy to silence the independent media in Zimbabweis well documented and has its public face through a range of repressive media laws. However,the Zimbabwe Independent uncovered in September 2005 the government’s clandestine strategyto effect ultimate control over media. It revealed that the Central Intelligence Organisation(CIO) had bought controlling shareholding in three privately owned newspapers namely theDaily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and the Financial Gazette, using taxpayer funds. This leavesthree financial weeklies – The Financial Gazette, Zimbabwe Standard and Zimbabwe Independent– as the only truly privately owned publications following the closure of the DailyNews, Daily News on Sunday, Tribune and The Weekly Times.The Zimbabwean government already controls a chain of newspapers under the Zimpapersstable, and enjoys a monopoly of the airwaves. Mission accomplished.Conclusion: not all bad newsMISA Mozambique announced in November that it had completed a draft bill on freedom ofinformation, ready to be considered by the country’s parliament. The bill will ensure access to thedata held by the public administration, or by private bodies that provide public services.So This Is Democracy? 2005-12-Media Institute of Southern Africa