ZESN Report on the 31 July 2013 Harmonised Elections expression, which includes — (a) freedom to seek, receive and communicate ideas and other information”46 Citizens can also tune in to alternative so-called ‘pirate’ radio stations that broadcast into the country using the short waveband width, such as Studio 7, SW Radio Africa and Voice of the People. One of the principles of the GPA was that these external broadcasts must be controlled47 as they were allegedly a source of external interference in the country. On 19 February 2013, the police banned the possession and distribution of short wave radios alleging that they were being used to spread hate speech and cause dissent ahead of elections. Social media became increasingly significant in the electoral field with a number of candidates and nongovernmental organisations using platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter to campaign, to educate voters and to comment on the electoral process. Online debates on politics were also prevalent and reached a wide segment of those with access to the Internet. What will remain etched in the minds of many observers with regard to the media’s conduct in this election was the blatantly partisan reporting, some of which reduced some media institutions to the level of propaganda outlets for the political contestants. While the public media was unapologetic about its brazen support of ZANU PF in complete disregard for its public service mandate, the private media also compromised their coverage with instances of open support for the MDC-T. In the end, it became difficult for voters to get a balanced picture on the substance of the contestants’ manifestos. Those that relied on the public media were bombarded with stories that projected ZANU PF as the only party that had sound solutions to problems plaguing Zimbabweans, while its opponents were invariably cast as appendages of western interests, immoral and bereft of meaningful ideas for extricating the country from its socio-economic malaise. Although it is a common and an acceptable practice that the private media can openly endorse a party or candidate of their choice, this must be done within the confines of professional, ethical journalistic practice. That means they are obliged to present issues fairly and accurately without resorting to baselessly disparaging those that they do not support. In some instances, the private media found themselves wanting on this score, using the ZANU PF presidential candidate’s age and signs of fatigue in his campaign, for example, to dismiss, out-of-hand, his party as a suitable alternative for Zimbabweans. 46 47 Constitution of Zimbabwe section 61. Global Political Agreement -Article 19.1(c) (i) ). 45 | P a g e