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its network as stipulated in its licence. The roll-out was expected to commence in May 2003,but TeleAccess said it had failed to proceed accordingly due to the acute shortages of foreigncurrency. It also argued that fixed telephone wireless services were not a viable business proposition.The company then requested a revised licence that embraces internet services and dataprovision in line with International Telecommunications Union’s standards for it to operate asa sound business venture 6 .Regrettably, Zimbabwe has not made any meaningful strides towards ensuring that its citizensgain greater access to ICTs and the developmental benefits that would accrue from such technology,as outlined in the Millennium Development Goals.MISA Zimbabwe recommends that the Ministry of Information and Publicity and the Ministryof Science and Technology review the situation regarding access to information in Zimbabwebased on legislations such as AIPPA, which pose serious impediments for ordinary citizens toaccess information from government departments.This will entail an urgent review of the Postal and Telecommunications Act, the BroadcastingServices Act and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Act, otherwise the internet will remain one of themost expensive, if not most under-utilised and least developed, means of communication inZimbabwe.(Footnotes)1. Zimbabwe has so far signed, ratified or acceded to among others, the WindhoekDeclaration of 1991, African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Declaration ofPrinciples on Freedom of Expression in Africa and the International Covenant on Civiland Political Rights.2. - The Daily News and The Daily News on Sunday were closed by the Media andInformation Commission (MIC) on September 11 2003.- The Tribune on June 10 2004 and- The Weekly Times on February 25 2005.3. For more information on these cases contact the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) on00 263 (0) 11 807 800 or 00 263 (0) 91 859 485.4. Source: http:www.misa.org- Zimbabwe’s Exiled Press5. By December 2005, US$1 was worth Z$75 000.6. TeleAccess has since filed a notice of appeal to the Minister of Transport andCommunications challenging the cancellation of the licence in terms of Section 96 of thePostal and Telecommunications Act Chapter 12:05.So This Is Democracy? 2005-147-Media Institute of Southern Africa