Zambia successfully conducted its Presidential Election last week following the death of President Michael Sata in October 2014. The Zambian Constitution stipulates that following the death of the President, elections to elect a replacement must be held within 90...
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Botswana: Newspaper website hacked again, and deleted
A website belonging to the only private daily newspaper in Botswana, Mmegi, was hacked on 22 January 2015 and deleted by unknown culprits. The newspaper realised their website had been deleted around 10am in the morning. Tlhalefang Charles, a reporter and new-media...
Media freedom essential during upcoming 2015 African elections
As Zambia, Lesotho and Tanzania go to the polls in 2015, the media have a key role to play in ensuring fair and transparent elections with informed voters. It is well established that freedom of expression and political debate is fundamental to free, fair and...
MISA Malawi Statement: Re-deployment of MBC Director General
The Media Institute of Southern Africa – Malawi Chapter (MISA Malawi) has learned with disappointment of the re-deployment of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Director General, Dr. Benson Tembo, to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) where he...
MISA Botswana statement on advertising bans
The media industry is gravely disturbed and perturbed by recent media reports that the Botswana Government is planning to use advertising as a weapon against the private media. The Guardian-Sun case of 2001 against the Attorney General clearly showed the...
MISA Zambia Statement: Stop beating journalists and acts of censorship
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is calling on all political parties not to beat journalists and refrain from acts of censorship because an independent media is key to free and fair elections. In order for citizens to make an informed decision,...
MISA Zambia Statement: High court rules seditious intent unconstitutional
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is happy that the High Court of Zambia has found section 67 of the Penal Code to be unconstitutional as it contravenes Article 20(3) of the Zambian Constitution. The High Court of Zambia has found that Section 67...
MISA Zambia: Statement on invasion of ZNBC
We note with grief the invasion of ZNBC studios by Sports minister Chishimba Kambwili and Information Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo, together with other PF leaders, as confirmed by ZNBC Board Chairperson Dr. John Mulwila. We are now 55 days away from the...
Statement from the MISA Election Observer Mission in Botswana
In October 2014, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) convened a mission to observe the conduct of the media and electoral bodies during the Botswana 2014 parliamentary and local government elections, held on Friday 24 October. The mission found that the...
MISA Malawi statement on arrest of journalist Archibald Kasakura
The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is shocked and deeply saddened with the detention of journalist Archibald Kasakura, who was arrested by Limbe Police in Blantyre, southern Malawi, for allegedly ‘obstructing a police officer on duty’....