While Zimbabwe is commendably not among the African countries with jailed journalists, the country witnessed an upsurge in the number of cases involving the assaults of journalists at political gatherings/rallies, with some sustaining injuries for which they sought medical treatment.
Digital rights
World Press Freedom Day Commemorations – 30 years on!
The year 2023 has seen the bulk of the southern African countries making positive steps in the rankings of the Reporters Without Borders Index. Of the 15 countries that were ranked, six slid down the ladder of rankings. One of the six that had a negative movement is Namibia dropping from position 18 to 22 yet maintaining the number one position in Africa.
MISA Regional World Press Freedom Day Statement
Thus, the theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day – Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights – is quite apt as it serves as a reminder of the centrality of freedom of expression in the enjoyment of all other human rights.
Freedom of expression key to enjoyment of other fundamental rights
MISA Zimbabwe, in line with the universal theme, and the obtaining environment in Zimbabwe, is thus celebrating this year’s WPFD under the localised theme: Freedom of Expression as a Public Good: Pivotal to the Enjoyment of other Rights.
Region should pay attention to shrinking civic space
The summit was organised by Accountability Lab, Ford Foundation, WFD, NED, Alliance for Finance Monitoring, African Election Observation Network, Christian Churches Monitoring Group, International IDEA, Kofi Annan Foundation, Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network, The Carter Centre, Zambia, the European Partnership for Democracy, the European Union, the Westminster Foundation, the African Election Observation Network and MISA Regional Office.
Malawi should rethink its broadcasting licence regime
The Spaces of Solidarity platform, thus, calls on the government, through MACRA, to address concerns of high annual fees broadcasters have to pay to the regulator. These subscriptions are pegged in US dollars and the recent devaluation of the Malawi kwacha against the all major convertible currencies has made the licence fees more expensive and unsustainable for broadcasters in the country.
Now Available: State of Access and Use of Community Information Centres in Zimbabwe report
The survey was conducted in all the provinces except Mashonaland Central. Mucheke in Masvingo Province, had the majority of respondents per CIC with 37
respondents followed by Chikato in the same province with 35 respondents.
Call for Applications: IJP German-Southern African Bursary 2023
Applications are still possible until February 15, 2023.
MISA Botswana elects new NGC
The elections took place four months after the annual general meeting in September 2022 was suspended as one of the aspirants for the position of chairperson of MISA Botswana was an active member and a position bearer in a political party – something that is an affront to the MISA Regional Network’s values.
Zimbabwe should #KeepItOn#
It should also be noted that neither criminalising the publishing of falsehoods or imposing internet shutdowns are reasonable, justifiable and proportionate mechanisms to curb the spread of disinformation.