Promoting and respecting the rights of journalists goes a long way in ensuring their safety and security during political gatherings and events, as the media plays a fundamental role in democratisation, accountability and respect for human rights.
Freedom of expression
DW Akademie Innovation Initiative 2023 for Southern Africa: Focus on AI and data
Journalists and newsroom innovators from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and Lesotho can apply with their ideas to improve their newsroom in the area of AI and data to better serve their audiences.
Patriot Bill signed into law
Prior to its enactment, Commissioner Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information wrote to President Mnangagwa, advising him against signing the then Bill into law.
ZIMBABWE 2023 ELECTIONS AND BEYOND: Media regulation, Journalism Safety and Security
Sadly, the country continued to witness cases involving the wanton unlawful arrests, assaults, and harassment of journalists with impunity, with none of the perpetrators of these media freedom violations being held accountable or brought to book.
Asakhe Online seeks permission to livestream election court cases
Asakhe Online is seeking permission to use cellphones and or video cameras to livestream and broadcast the proceedings to the public through the internet in an orderly and unobtrusive manner.
Why Zambia needs ‘pure’ self-regulation mechanism
Self-regulation is standard setting and setting out the proper codes of behaviour for the media and this is necessary to support freedom of expression. These standards are agreed to by the media industry itself and are monitored, with the media being held to account where it deviates from the agreed standards.
ACHPR Special Rapporteur engages Mnangagwa on ‘Patriot Bill’
In a letter to President Mnangagwa last week, the Commissioner advised that the proposed law will have the effect of curtailing the exercise of rights such as media freedom and freedom of expression, the right to privacy, access to information, freedom of conscience, political rights, freedom to demonstrate and petition, and freedom of assembly and association.
Free Expression Climate Survey 2023
This survey is part of MISA’s regional programme to identify the most pressing issues for free media, free speech, and a free expression in the digital sphere.
Regional governments commit to more openness as MISA launches press freedom report
MISA Regional Director Tabani Moyo gave a synopsis of the report, explaining that while there were improvements on some aspects, the issue of impunity for crimes against journalists remained a worry.
The State of Press Freedom in Southern Africa Report 2022 ( Now Available)
The rise of digital technologies has presented new challenges in terms of the legislative environments in the region.