The report documents urgent media issues such as the legal environment impacting access to information and media freedom across the region. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.10 and is part of the Media 4 SDGs Series.
Media freedom monitoring
MISA Regional Chairperson Jeremias Langa’s Opening Remarks for the Regional World Press Freedom Day commemorations –
This has a chilling effect on freedom of expression and the media. Such laws have been used in other jurisdictions to target political opponents, journalists, and activists.
Increased urgency and momentum key to addressing barriers and biases women face
Resolution 522 highlights and laments that, digital violence is increasingly gendered and disproportionately affects women, through inter alia threats of sexual violence, misogynistic disinformation campaigns and revenge pornography…
Southern Africa should intensify fight against online gender-based violence
This calls for developing more rigorous and coordinated strategies to stem the growing menace of GBV at national, continental, and global levels. Female journalists should be capacitated to vigorously deal with technologically facilitated GBV.
Zimbabwe should stay the course in reducing media freedom violations
Zimbabwe moved 10 places from 126 in 2023 to 116 in 2024 in Reporters Without Borders’s World Press Freedom Index rankings. This came on the backdrop of reductions in media freedom violations last year, culminating in an improved media operating environment during Zimbabwe’s 2023 election season.
THE 2nd FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FORUM Address by MISA Regional Director – Dr Tabani Moyo
Madam Chairperson and distinguished guests, we have never been so well placed as we are today to take decisive forward steps towards creating a people-centred society, especially one that places the generally marginalised at the centre.
MISA Regional 2023 Annual Report (Now Available!!!)
In these precarious conditions, expression and truth-telling are the first layers of casualty, as nations recoil, become inward looking, focusing on narrow national issues at the expense of a holistic picture. Suffice to say the entire construct of humanity is highly vulnerable due to such inward-looking approaches.
MISA ZIMBABWE 2023 STATE OF THE MEDIA REPORT (Now Available!!!)
The Police-Media Action Plan, among other action points, aims to improve the professional relations between the police and the media while curbing or reducing cases of media freedom violations involving law enforcement agents.
Botswana President calls for solutions to issues affecting the media in Southern Africa
President Masisi, who was the guest of honour, paid tribute to MISA Regional, MISA Botswana and UNESCO for organising the event, which is now a mainstay on the regional calendar.
Press freedom declines significantly in Southern Africa
However, improvements were recorded in Tanzania, Malawi, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and Angola. Declines were recorded in Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia.