Established in 1999, the Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ) is an independent trust that works to promote freedom of expression and responsible journalism in Zimbabwe. It aims to achieve this through monitoring and analysis of the news and current affairs output on domestic radio and television, and in the print media. The project is a joint initiative of the Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Catholic Commission for justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJPZ).
The project focuses primarily on media outlets financed from private funds that are often subject to censorship. Its site offers general information, detailed information about the monitoring procedures, reports, a newsletter and publications that can be ordered online.
The mission of the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe is to monitor the media in Zimbabwe to determine how far they conform to international and constitutionally guaranteed standards of freedom of expression and freedom of information, as well as to generally accepted professional and ethical standards of journalism. This is achieved through monitoring and analysis of news and current affairs on radio, television and the print media.
The objectives of the organisation are to have an informed citizenry empowered to make informed decisions and engage in national processes, creating media that promote credible information, and media policies that are in line with regional, international and constitutional provisions and instruments that Zimbabwe is signatory to.
MMPZ works to promote well-researched, investigative and informative news coverage of all issues of public interest and concern, drawing upon a wide variety of sources, as well as educational and informative current affairs or features coverage. Over the years, its partners have included
- Norwegian Agency for International Development (NORAD)
- Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)
- Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa (NiZA)
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID- OTI);
- Communication Assistance Foundation (CAF)
- Article 19: Global Campaign for Freedom of Expression.
In Zimbabwe MMPZ works with many organisations, such as the Legal Resources Foundation, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network and the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum.
