Television and Radio
Both television and radio media are controlled by the government Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, no domestic private stations are allowed. There are 16 channels available. However, satellite stations are received in the country unrestricted. Coverage in rural areas is low, due to poor infrastructure. Overall, 30% of the population receives broadcasts by the ZBC, so radio is the main source of information. In 2006, a parliamentary committee in Zimbabwe called for an opening up of the broadcast media. Chinese technology has been used to jam frequencies used by foreign based radio stations in South Africa, the US and the UK that criticise the government. The vast majority of the media is practically propaganda, all of it either eulogizes Mugabe, features themes of African surpremacy, and heavily spreads anti-British and anti-American sentiment on its TV and radio programming. There are no entertainment television programs, and very little music on the radio.
In the presidential elections in 2008, the media gave significantly more coverage to the ruling party, Zanu PF, and rarely showed opposition broadcasts. It was also criticised for inciting violence against the opposition.
Read more about this topic: Zimbabwean Media
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