Zimbabwe – Ready for Elections? 55 continues to provide completely partisan coverage of the election campaign.103 It is noted that ZBH showed no sign of observing either Zimbabwean law or regional guidelines to provide fair and balanced coverage.104 3.7.2.1 Equitable access – but the jingles continue The Herald newspaper has proved to be an extension of ZANU PF, advancing party politics and positions ahead of factual and accurate news and moderate opinion.105 Provisions of the Media Coverage regulations include equal access during election periods of all political parties to the public broadcasters106 and the public broadcaster is required to allocate equal advertising airtime for political parties during the prime time.107 A public broadcaster is also obliged to ensure that it creates programmes where political parties are invited to present their election manifestos and policies to the electorate.108 This has not been the case, but neither the ZMC nor ZEC have acted upon the irregularities highlighted above. The SADC Principles very explicitly state that all stakeholders, individuals or political parties should refrain from using abusive, defamatory or hate language.109 This provision has been blatantly violated and is a clear indication that the laws have been manipulated to create an uneven playing field. It can only be hoped that both ZMC and ZEC will confront publishers and broadcasters when the need arises since they have the jurisdiction to entertain any grievances by political parties or anyone affected by the conduct of a broadcaster or print publisher.110 The banning of short wave radios by the police also makes it impossible for the public to access alternate independent information other than the state controlled. 3.7.2.2 Them and us – churning out hate speech Irresponsible reporting has been rampant, with the state-controlled media publishing inflammatory articles, usually without any factual basis, accusing political activists and HRDs of involvement in unlawful activities. MDC was blamed for the chaos that occurred during the Special Vote by the Deputy Chief Editor of The Herald. This individual is notorious for the vitriol with which he attacks and accuses individuals and organisations in his articles, inciting hate without factual basis. It is important to note at this juncture that this same person has previously been ordered, after violent outbursts, by the High Court of Harare in the case of Chikwanha v Zvayi (High Court Harare unreported case number 1467/07) for damages for pain and suffering, contumelia, and 103 MMPZ Daily Election report (27 July 2013). 104 As above. 105 F Machivenyika “ZANU PF conference date set” The Herald (8 November 2012) p 1. 106 See section 6(1), 8(1) of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Media Coverage of Election) Regulations, (2008). 107 See section 5(2) of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Media Coverage of Election) Regulations, (2008). 108 See section 3(a)(b)(c) of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Media Coverage of Election) Regulations, (2008). 109 Principle 9 of the SADC Principles. 110 Section 10(1) of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Media Coverage of Election) Regulations, (2008).