Factsheet: How did Zimbabwe media cover the last general elections?

Zimbabwean journalists and media houses have faced perennial questions over their commitment to reporting and presenting news and information in a fair, accurate and balanced manner, particularly during elections.

In response and ahead of this year’s general election (expected in August), media houses, professional representative associations and media development organisations have been conducting skills training and capacity building programmes to try to raise the depth and standard of reporting generally.

But critics of these capacity development programmes say the major issue is not skill but politics — political bias and choices, financial support and ownership pressures — that is determining the conduct of Zimbabwean media around reporting elections.

Below is a summary of what some key observers said about the Zimbabwe media during the last general elections in 2018.

African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM)

The African Union (AU) noted the positive existence of laws providing for equitable and balanced access to the media, but it flagged the partisan and polarized nature of reporting which led to unfair representation of the candidates. The mission recommended media in Zimbabwe to consider full implementation of the Broadcasting Service Act and ensure equal access to the State Broadcaster to all contestants during elections.

SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM)

The Mission observed that the public broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), and the state-owned newspapers were in favour of one political party, contrary to the relevant provisions of the Zimbabwe Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, which requires state-owned media to be impartial. SEOM advised the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Zimbabwe Media Commission to ensure that legal provisions are enforced with respect to the conduct of the media.

Eminent Persons Election Observer Mission

The Election Support Network of Southern Africa noted that ZEC should enhance mechanisms for monitoring the media, and its reports or updates should be publicized. The public broadcaster should ensure fair and balanced coverage of all contestants, as well as the different geographical regions. It called on the Zimbabwe media to desist from perpetuating hate speech and fake news.

Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN)

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) called for ZEC to be independent of government so that it exercises power in addressing media violations brought to its attention. Zimbabwe’s largest local election observer group reported that digital media was more open than traditional media but focused excessively on personalities than pertinent electoral issues.

European Union Election Observation Mission

The European Union delegation called on Zimbabwe to liberalize the electronic media sector, including issuing licenses for community radio stations. They noted a need for comprehensive legal reform in order to harmonize media regulations with the Constitution, in order to adequately safeguard freedom of expression. ZBC needs to be reformed into a truly independent public service broadcaster, and state-owned media must abide by their legal obligation to be impartial and provide equitable treatment to all political parties and candidates.

Commonwealth Election Observer Mission

The Commonwealth observers noted that,given that media monitoring reverts to ZEC after proclamation, it is recommended that ZECconsiders putting in place a strategy to ensure balanced media coverage for all parties and candidates on public owned media (electronic and print).

NDI/IRI Zimbabwe International Election Observer Mission

The joint National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) observer mission called on the Zimbabwean government to eliminate laws that impede constitutionally protected freedoms to free speech, right to association and assembly.

In addition, NDI and IRI recommended that ZEC be provided with the resources for and be held accountable to establishing an effective media monitoring committee to fairly assess media coverage of political parties and candidates in the election period.

Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) 2018 Elections Media Monitoring Report

In its consolidated report on the 2018 elections, the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) Media Monitoring Committee said the local media adhered to key legal and journalistic standards concluding that the print, radio and television broadcast channels contributed towards making the 2018 Harmonized Elections credible by strengthening the democratic nature of the polls.

Zimbabwe Media Monitors

Zimbabwe’s prime media content researchers observed that although the media was able to extensively cover election-related developments, they were unable to clearly articulate and follow up on the impact of the electoral irregularities and malpractices that were recorded.

It said ZEC should enforce national statutory regulations stipulating that election coverage be fair, balanced and equitable.

Zimbabwe 2023 Elections

On May 15 2023, President Emmerson Mnangagwa extended a blanket invitation to countries an organisations interested in observing this year’s elections to come forward. The invitations are traditionally processed through the government’s foreign affairs ministry.

Election observation involves the collection and verification of information on electoral processes to assess whether the prevailing conditions are conducive for free, fair, and credible elections. One of the key indicators assessed is the media environment paying attention to the existing legal framework, adherence to the media elections code of conduct, and issues of professionalism and representation.