2007, the three “pirate radio stations” all applied for licenses, but the government rejected all three requests.53 Under the power-sharing government, licensing authorities have yet to commence operations. Zimbabwe still has no independent daily newspaper or private broadcaster for either radio or television. George Charamba, the permanent secretary in the ministry of information who is aligned to ZANU-PF, threatened legal action against Newsday, a prospective privately owned daily newspaper, for publishing without a license, while taking no such action against Harare Metro, a government-controlled daily that publishes without a license.54 Although the government has lifted restrictions on a previously banned daily newspaper—The Daily News—it is unable to publish, as the Zimbabwe Media Commission has yet to process its license application.55 Several publishers told Human Rights Watch that they are ready to publish, and several community radio initiatives, such as Bulawayo-based Radio Dialogue, also noted that they are ready to broadcast.56 Jameson Z. Timba, a senior MDC official and deputy minister for media, information, and publicity, told Human Rights Watch that the country has the technical capacity to run 60 district-based community radio stations.57 That capacity remains unfulfilled, owing in part to political interference. Despite committing to immediately process applications from prospective publishers under the GPA, the government has taken more than a year to eventually appoint the appropriate authority—the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC)—which is charged with the registration and regulation of journalists and media houses. President Mugabe has now appointed the ZMC, but the body has yet to begin work.58 The process of making the appointments was riddled with controversy, as Mugabe disregarded the constitutionally prescribed parliamentary interview process and instead appointed commissioners on the basis of 53 Human Rights Watch telephone interviews with D.M., L.D., and C.K., March 30, 2010. 54 Human Rights Watch interview with local journalist M.F, Harare, February 4, 2010; and with local editor B.B, Harare, February 9, 2010. See also Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe), “State of the Media Report 2009,” p. 7. 55 “Government gives Daily News licence to publish,” Zimbabwe Independent, July 31, 2009; and Human Rights Watch interviews with three former reporters for The Daily News, B.M., M.C., and A.A., Harare, February 8, 2010. 56 “Radio Dialogue losing patience with GNU over licence delays,” Radio Dialogue press statement, February 4, 2010. 57 Human Rights Watch interview with Jameson Timba, deputy minister for media, information and publicity, Harare, February 9, 2010. 58 Statement delivered by Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe justice minister, at the high-level segment of the 13th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva, March 3, 2010, on file with Human Rights Watch. See also, “Zimbabwe Media Commission gazetted,” Radio Voice of the People, February 20, 2010, http://www.zimbabwesituation.org/?p=8733 (accessed March 3, 2010). Sleight of Hand 18