The Zimbabwean government slapped an import duty of 40% on foreign newspapers and magazines and launched a campaign to remove satellite dishes from homes. Both actions will choke information sources that tell a different story from that of state-controlled media.
A special edition of the Government Gazette classified foreign newspapers as luxury goods, making them subject to the punitive duty.
Coupled with this measure is a drive in rural areas called Operation Dzikisai Madhishi (“pull down the satellite dish”). It mainly affects police camps, because few other rural Zimbabweans can afford satellite television.
Rural police officers live with their families in three-roomed houses with satellite TV access. Zanu-PF said the dishes are being removed because the police officers tell their communities about violence in other parts of the country.
The state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation does not show the violence or cover the MDC in its news bulletins.
Said the MDC in a statement: “The regime is determined to cut off Zimbabweans from the rest of the world by ensuring that they are unable to receive news from outside Zimbabwe about what is happening in their own country.
“[The campaign] began in Matabeleland South. It is being undertaken by elements of the central intelligence organisation, police, army and youth militia.”
Justifying the new duty on foreign publications, secretary for information and publicity George Charamba told the audience at a media awards ceremony in Harare that foreign newspapers make profits from sales in Zimbabwe but the money leaves the country.
“We lose the politics, we lose money,” he said.
Currently a copy of the Mail & Guardian retails for Z$800-million and the average monthly take-home pay of a Zimbabwean civil servant is Z$50-Âbillion.