Contestation of Ideas: Media Activism and Media Democracy in Zimbabwe

Abstract

ABSTRACT The struggle for media reform by media reform activists in Zimbabwe has revolutionised the media sphere from various perspectives. Regardless of these changes, the media in Zimbabwe has remained undemocratic. This article explores the extent to which media reforms adopted in the post-2000 era have democratised the media. It further examines the contestation of ideas that characterised the media reform processes in Zimbabwe. Guided by the democracy theory, the article questions the extent to which media reforms in Zimbabwe have democratised the media space. Analysis of documents and in-depth interviews with media policy actors in Zimbabwe constitute the methodology of this study. The article argues that media reforms have changed the dynamics of media policy and practice in Zimbabwe. However, despite these changes, the media has remained undemocratic due to the hegemonic control of the media by the state.