As mentioned earlier in this report, it was not all gloom and doom following the stakeholder consultative meetings convened by the Ministry of Information in November and December 2018. These meetings were aimed at getting input on the extent to which media laws such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and Broadcasting Services Act [BSA], among others, need to be reviewed and align them with the Constitution. Given the country’s poor record when it comes to implementation of these now long overdue media reforms, MISA Zimbabwe therefore expects the Ministry of Information to honour its commitments and stick to timelines to ensure speedy alignment of these contentious laws. The proposed Bills should also be subjected to public hearings to secure further input from the citizens as is provided for and required by the Constitution. The government has a constitutional obligation to promote participatory democracy in Zimbabwe hence the need to ensure the Bills are explained to the public. Furthermore, beyond the two laws that are currently under the spotlight, the reform agenda should be expanded and be far-reaching in as far as the laws that affect the enjoyment of the rights to privacy, freedom of the media and expression and access to information are concerned. In that regard, the next five years and beyond, cannot be business as usual without the envisaged reforms. End ❖ Appendix: Media Violations Statistics 2018 ASSAULTED Victim/Concerned Party Issue Date Freelance journalist Godfrey Mutimba, Patrick Chitongo of Chiredzi’s Flame newspaper, Morris Assaulted by family members of Andrew Takashinga 22 Bere at the end of his bail hearing on accusations of 2018 defrauding American taxpayers of $7 million during his stay in the United States. They were assaulted as they March