ZANU-PF has sought to portray these changes as indicative of genuine progress in the protection and promotion of human rights in Zimbabwe. At its congress in December 2009, the party reaffirmed its commitment to access to information, media freedom, and freedom of expression. On March 3, 2010, Minister of Justice (ZANU-PF) Patrick Chinamasa, in a speech at the United Nations, cited the appointments of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, as well as the Electoral Commission and the Human Rights Commission, as evidence of Zimbabwe’s progress in improving the promotion and protection of human rights. In practice, however, the former sole ruling party has blocked meaningful political changes that would safeguard those rights. In terms of creating a true coalition government or granting greater freedoms, the reforms have been largely inconsequential. President Mugabe and ZANU-PF continue to enjoy sweeping powers and the capacity to undo reforms without notice. They use control of the media to maintain a firm grip on power in Zimbabwe. In the past year, not one independent television or radio station has received a license to operate. Many Zimbabweans continue to lack both political freedom and accurate, non-partisan information about the state of the country and the activities of government. This deficit is particularly worrisome, as Zimbabwe, faced with a paralyzed coalition government, now envisions elections in 2011. Without media and other reforms protecting human rights, Zimbabwe remains at risk of repeating the horrific election violence of 2008, out of which the tenuous power-sharing government was created when ZANU-PF blocked an MDC electoral victory. Lacking political freedom, Zimbabweans are likely to again face serious obstacles to political participation without fear of violent retribution. The government of Zimbabwe should take immediate steps to end continuing abuses against the media as part of a broader effort to create the necessary constitutional and electoral framework envisaged in the GPA. Media freedom, an elemental human right that was also promised by the parties to the GPA, is urgently needed as a precursor to the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections that can truly reflect the political will of Zimbabweans. Human Rights Watch also calls on the region’s governments—particularly South Africa—and other concerned states to press for legal measures to ensure media freedom and the protection of journalists, civil society actors, and ordinary Zimbabweans who dare to express their views. The SADC-appointed mediators, South Africa President Jacob Zuma and his facilitation team, have great potential to push parties to the GPA to deliver genuine reforms and produce a lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s crisis. By publicly focusing more on lifting sanctions than on meaningful change in Zimbabwe, President Zuma has squandered an Sleight of Hand 2