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The Airwaves Belong to the People: A Critical Analysis of Radio Broadcasting and Licensing in Zimbabwe

Abstract This article reports on a study that focused on the radio broadcasting and licensing scene in Zimbabwe between 2000 and 2020. The study interrogated the sincerity of the Zimbabwean government in advancing both media pluralism and diversity. Opposition political parties and civic organisations pressured Zimbabwe into adopting a liberal approach that they hoped would widen the political and media space. The study examined how the government has taken and implemented such a liberal approach. Drawing on the competitive authoritarianism concept, the study argued that the cosmetic application of contested and undemocratic media laws that pretended to be democratising the media was indeed gagging democracy. This is called a pseudo-progressive stance. The study gathered data using qualitative interviews with three media activists, three policymakers, two media professionals, and two media scholars in Zimbabwe. In total, 10 qualitative key informant in-depth interviews were carried out. The analysis revealed a silhouette of grandiose but empty media laws that have continued to impede democracy in Zimbabwe. Therefore, the study concluded that the monopoly of media influence and concentration of broadcasting media ownership within the ruling party is dire and not conducive to the development of diverse and creative content for the nation. Thus, collaborative efforts are needed for real change to be achieved in the broadcasting media in Zimbabwe.