TABLE OF CONTENTS Specific Cases ........................................................................ 52 CHAPTER 13 FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA ......................................... 54 Propaganda and Media Bias ................................................... 55 Opening the Airwaves ............................................................ 55 Freedom of Expression ........................................................... 55 Press and Media Freedom ...................................................... 55 Violence, Harassment and Arrest of Journalists ....................... 55 Communication and Internet Freedom .................................. 55 Specific Cases ....................................................................... 56 CHAPTER 14 COURTS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE: THE BULWARK AGAINST TYRANNY ......................................................................... 60 Access to Courts .................................................................... 60 Judicial Independence ........................................................... 60 Delayed Justice, Delayed judgments and Judicial Approach ... 62 Threats and Attacks to Lawyers .............................................. 62 Access to Legal Aid ................................................................ 63 Specific Cases ........................................................................ 64 CHAPTER 15 INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONS SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY: THE WATCHDOGS .................................................. 66 Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission ................................... 66 Zimbabwe Gender Commission ............................................. 67 National Peace and Reconciliation Commission ..................... 67 Zimbabwe Media Commission .............................................. 67 Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ........................................... 67 Specific Cases ........................................................................ 68 CHAPTER 16 RATIFICATION AND DOMESTICATION OF INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND INSTRUMENTS ........................... 69 Zimbabwe and International Law .......................................... 69 Conventions and treaties that Zimbabwe is yet to ratify and domesticate ........................................................................... 70 PART 3: THE FUTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ZIMBABWE: PROSPECTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................ 72 CHAPTER 17 THE FUTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ZIMBABWE: PROSPECTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................ v 73 STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ZIMBABWE 2018