Ideological differences relating to the normative expectations of media performance in Zimbabwe have, historically, been at the heart of debates and struggles around press freedom and media activism. On one hand, political leaders, who lean towards nationalist politics, have accused the media and media activists who are mostly part of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), of undertaking colonial work. In some cases, the private media have been characterised as running dogs of imperialism. On the other hand, media activists and journalists, have accused the government of limiting the space for meaningful engagement in media work through harsh laws and the arrests of journalists. These activists and journalists, ideologically located mostly in the terrain of a free market liberal understanding of media and politics, have also accused the government of using soft strategies such as starving private newspapers of government advertising and the huge revenue that comes with it. Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has given as good as he has got in this ideological war. He has accused the private media of colluding with the Western media to tarnish the image of the country. In turn, he has been described as a media hangman. Using a combination of archival research and in-depth interviews with journalists, media activists and politicians, this paper gives a historicised account of this ideological struggle and seeks to engage with questions concerning the meaning of press freedom and media activism in Zimbabwe.

中文翻译：

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服务于新闻自由还是《帝国议程》？津巴布韦新闻业的压制与殖民谈判

历史上，与津巴布韦媒体表现的规范期望有关的意识形态差异一直是围绕新闻自由和媒体行动主义的辩论和斗争的核心。一方面，倾向于民族主义政治的政治领导人指责大多数是民间社会组织（CSO）成员的媒体和媒体活动家从事殖民工作。在某些情况下，私人媒体被描述为帝国主义的猎狗。另一方面，媒体活动家和新闻记者指责政府通过严厉的法律和逮捕记者来限制有意义地参与媒体工作的空间。这些激进主义者和新闻工作者在思想上主要位于自由市场对媒体和政治自由理解的领域，还指责政府使用软策略，例如使私人报纸饿死政府广告以及由此带来的巨额收入。津巴布韦前总统罗伯特·穆加贝（Robert Mugabe）在这场意识形态战争中表现出色。他指责私人媒体与西方媒体勾结，破坏国家形象。反过来，他被描述为媒体子手。本文结合档案研究和对记者，媒体活动家和政治家的深入采访，对这种意识形态斗争进行了历史性描述，并试图解决有关津巴布韦新闻自由和媒体活动主义意义的问题。津巴布韦前总统罗伯特·穆加贝（Robert Mugabe）在这场意识形态战争中表现出色。他指责私人媒体与西方媒体勾结，破坏国家形象。反过来，他被描述为媒体子手。本文结合档案研究和对记者，媒体活动家和政治家的深入采访，对这种意识形态斗争进行了历史性描述，并试图解决有关津巴布韦新闻自由和媒体活动主义意义的问题。津巴布韦前总统罗伯特·穆加贝（Robert Mugabe）在这场意识形态战争中表现出色。他指责私人媒体与西方媒体勾结，破坏国家形象。反过来，他被描述为媒体子手。本文结合档案研究和对记者，媒体活动家和政治家的深入采访，对这种意识形态斗争进行了历史性描述，并试图解决有关津巴布韦新闻自由和媒体活动主义意义的问题。