Nevertheless, the biggest problem with the Bill is that it fails to put in place specific and effective sanctions for breaches of the legal requirements by the media. A law that fails to provide effective sanctions against breaches is not likely to have any impact on behaviour. • ZESN recommends that this part of the law be re-visited with a view to installing clear sanctions for breaches. Sanctions could include suspension of a licence, heavy fines and clear directions to publicly and prominently correct any false and/or misleading publications. PREVENT CIRCUMVENTION A final point is that the law must specifically prohibit attempts to circumvent these requirements through programming that purports to be otherwise than it actually is. For example, a political programme might be dressed up as a religion and culture programme. Focus must be on the content of the programme as opposed to its title. Such programmes should reflect balance of opinions across the political spectrum and not give undue coverage to supporters of one political party or ideology. CONCLUSION In conclusion, all this points to the need to take into account not just the quantitative aspects but also the qualitative aspects of media coverage. The lack of clear sanctions for transgressions makes this law weak and ineffective in reining in bad behaviour in the media. Overall, ZESN recommends greater and quicker liberalisation of the broadcast media because plurality of participants and competition among media houses promote voters’ freedom of choice and helps them to make more informed decisions. Send comments and feedback to: info@zesn.org.zw or zesn@africaonline.co.zw 3