I. Summary The Global Political Agreement (GPA), which in February 2009 created a power-sharing government between the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), raised expectations for human rights reforms in Zimbabwe. The promised reforms included expanded media freedom and the protection of journalists, which are critical for creating an open, democratic, and transparent society. Under article 17 of the power-sharing agreement, for example, the parties expressed a desire to open up the airwaves and operate as many media houses as possible. Article 19 of the agreement recognized the importance of the right to free expression and acknowledged the role of the media in a multi-party democracy. ZANU-PF and MDC agreed that they would systematically process and grant broadcasting applications to journalists and media houses. More than a year into the implementation of the GPA, these reforms remain unfulfilled, and freedom of expression is imperiled in Zimbabwe. In the past year alone, some 15 different journalists have been harassed, arbitrarily arrested, or assaulted by state security forces in Zimbabwe. Five separate pieces of legislation restricting free expression remain on the books and are enforced. The laws, which are used only against ZANU-PF’s critics, exist in violation of Zimbabwe’s obligations under international law, under its constitution, and according to commitments under the GPA to undertake media reform. ZANU-PF continues to rely on these laws, and the state-controlled media itself, to promote political propaganda and restrict independent information about the party. As recently as March 2010, journalists in Zimbabwe have been arrested for covering peaceful protest marches, writing articles about internal ZANU-PF politics, reporting on regional economic conferences, or discussing Zimbabwe’s land policy. Journalists who dare to cover such topics face detention, torture, and harassment, which serves to quash dissent or even balanced reporting, leading to self-censorship among the media. Writing that is broadly construed as being insulting to the president or ZANU-PF is punished. Superficially, the power-sharing government has made a few positive changes. It has initiated a Parliament-led constitutional review process, lifted restrictions on a previously banned daily newspaper (which still does not have a license to operate), and in February 2010 established the Zimbabwe Media Commission. 1 Human Rights Watch | April 2010