Democratic Transition or Change without Change? Critical Reflections on the Media Reform trajectory in Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VI, June 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Democratic Transition or Change without Change? Critical Reflections on the Media Reform trajectory in Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe.

Tongai Jonhera
Zimbabwe Open University

Abstract
The Post-Mugabe government is confronted by a crisis of expectations. The Zimbabwean citizenry and the world at large, expect the Emmerson Mnangagwa led “new dispensation” to usher democratic reforms not only in the media sector but in all political, economic and social spheres .The media sector is under spotlight and is certainly one of the key sectors that the international community is going to employ as a barometer, to gauge the extent to which the “new dispensation” has departed from the Mugabe era human rights violations. This paper gives therefore utilises the political economic approach and the polarised pluralist model as theoretical lenses to critically reflect on the progress, that has been made in instituting media reforms in Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe. The study is based on mixed methodology comprising of qualitative in-depth interviews, document analysis and an ethnographic
study of the Zimbabwean media environment. In light of the findings, the paper argues that although, the Post-Mugabe government has started instituting media reforms, no meaningful progress has been made as yet. The current media environment therefore, largely depicts a continuity from the Mugabe era or what this paper has dubbed “change without change”. Thus there is still need for sincerity and political will, so as to usher real democratic media reforms in Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe.

Keywords: Transition, Media reform, Trajectory, new dispensation

Introduction

“Press freedom is an essential constituent of democracy” (Holtz-Bacha, 2004). The essential role played by a free press in promoting democracy has been acknowledged by various scholars Smith(2007:40) aptly sums up the central role that a free press plays in a democracy by asserting that, “A free press is essential for exposing corruption, the purchase of favours, unwarranted secrecy, abuse of office, and violations of human rights”. It is important to note that press freedom has achieved global recognition as being one of the foundations of human rights. Since press freedom is viewed as a foundational human right it is internationally protected,

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