ANALYSIS OF COVID-19 REGULATIONS VIS-À-VIS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE SADC REGION and media freedom instead of censorship and criminal sanctions.144 and should involve different stakeholders; and include both legal and non-legal means. Governments and other relevant stakeholders should purposefully and vigilantly provide easily accessible information on COVID-19, including mode of infection, symptoms and preventive measures, the government’s crisis management measures and safety measures for victims of abuse. Information should be provided or disseminated without discrimination in all national languages and accessible in various platforms and in formats that are accessible to persons with disabilities. Conclusion As governments across the SADC region respond to COVID-19, some freedoms that would be ordinarily enjoyed such as freedom of movement are being restricted. The emergency response measures are necessary to curb the spread of the virus, but should be implemented within the confines of international human rights law and standards. Any restrictions that infringe on freedom of expression should meet the test of legality, proportionality, necessity as stipulated in the norms and standards that the research alluded to. Information on the transmission, treatment and prevention of COVID-19 should be aligned with the advice and guidelines by the WHO, health experts and authorities should be promoted and strictly followed.145This is to ensure credibility of information and potentially control the information disorder that has proliferated in this crisis. It is also important to promote a transparent information ecosystem and denounce the culture of secrecy and withholding information that is in the public interest. Those entrusted with the responsibility to enforce the crisis management measures (the national security and law enforcement sector) should provide regular and credible information through press conferences and other possible means such as setting up information centres. Transparency and accountability mechanisms should be enhanced through laws and relevant institutions such as the human rights commissions, ombudsmen, and public protector offices among others. It is also important to note that any restrictions that have been introduced during the crisis period should be constantly reviewed and should not be carried over to the post- pandemic period. Throughout the pandemic, the governments and other stakeholders should ensure that the public receives timely and adequate credible information that would empower them to respond to the pandemic from an informed perspective. Civil society organisations, particularly media lobby organisations should play a key role in advocating for and safeguarding of freedom of expression and promote access to information during this time of the pandemic. Initiatives being undertaken to counter the scourge of disinformation should respect human rights especially freedom of expression. In tackling this scourge, a sustained approach is required Excessive control on free flow of information such as censorship, restrictions on movement of journalists and their access to information and surveillance are an interference with democratic values that should not be sustained even during a crisis. It is therefore crucial that criminalisation should not take precedence, but more emphasis should be placed on media 144 As above. 145 As above. https://zimbabwe.misa.org 30