LEAST BIASED
These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appeals to emotion or stereotypes). The reporting is factual and usually sourced. These are the most credible media sources. See all Least Biased Sources.
- Overall, we rate FactCheckZW as Least Biased based on its consistent use of neutral language and its focus on evidence-based verification of public claims rather than ideological or partisan narratives. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to strong reliance on official data and primary documents, transparent methodology and funding disclosures, and the absence of any failed fact checks.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED (-0.5)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (0.5)
Country: Zimbabwe
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: LIMITED FREEDOM
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
FactCheckZW, formally known as Fact Check and Media Lab ZW, was established in March 2022 by the Fact Check Zimbabwe Trust as a nonprofit fact-checking and media literacy organization operating in Zimbabwe. According to its About FactCheckZW page, the organization was created to provide fact-checking services, train journalists and citizens in media literacy, support universities in fact-checking research, promote public-sector accountability, and contribute to free and fair elections by verifying election-related information before, during, and after voting periods.
Read our profile on Zimbabwe media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
FactCheckZW is owned and operated by the Fact Check Zimbabwe Trust, a registered nonprofit trust in Zimbabwe under the Deeds Registration Act. As outlined on its How We Are Funded page, the organization relies on funding from philanthropic foundations, local and international agencies, governments, and private corporations, while explicitly rejecting funding from political parties. It states that all funding is accepted with guarantees of full editorial independence and notes that this independence is reviewed annually through the International Fact-Checking Network. The organization reports that it is currently funded by the Global Fact Fund (GROW 2024) through the IFCN.
Analysis / Bias
FactCheckZW is a nonprofit fact-checking and media literacy website focused on verifying claims related to Zimbabwean public affairs, health, education, and elections. An example of its work includes its fact check titled “The 33% ceiling: did Zimbabwe’s O’Level exams really never break it?”, where it reviewed claims made by Hopewell Chin’ono using official Zimbabwe School Examinations Council data and concluded the claim was inaccurate, citing specific pass-rate figures and historical records.
Another example is its review titled “Zimbabwe’s 4% medical aid coverage claim false”, which relied on the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey to demonstrate that population-level conclusions in the original reporting were unsupported by the data. Additional content, such as its public health explainer “Breastfeeding: Should You? Could You? We’ve got the answers!”, shows an emphasis on evidence-based information and public education rather than political framing. Across reviewed articles, sourcing is clearly presented, verdicts are labeled, and language remains explanatory and non-inflammatory, with no consistent ideological or partisan slant.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years. They are an IFCN fact checker.
Overall, we rate FactCheckZW as Least Biased based on its consistent use of neutral language and its focus on evidence-based verification of public claims rather than ideological or partisan narratives. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to strong reliance on official data and primary documents, transparent methodology and funding disclosures, and the absence of any failed fact checks. (D. Van Zandt 12/27/2025)
Source: https://factcheckzw.org/
Last Updated on December 27, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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