commemorated this year’s event under the theme: Free, independent & safe media key to access to information for all. Internet governance/freedom of expression/access to information While the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, gives the impression that the archaic AIPPA, has been repealed, there are still outstanding Bills, that deal with regulation of the media and citizens’ right to privacy that are still outstanding, such as the proposed Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill and Protection of Personal Information Bill. The other Bill is the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill, which was at the Second Reading Stage in Parliament at the writing of this mid-term report. However, there are a myriad of other laws that are in violation of the Constitution, notably, Censorship and Entertainment Controls Act, Official Secrets Act, sections of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Interception of Communications Act, among others. These laws which have a bearing on citizens’ right to free expression and media freedom, continue to exist at a time when the government has since gazetted the Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill. The Bill has been widely criticised, locally, regionally and internationally, for leaning heavily on mass surveillance of citizens as opposed to balancing cyber security with the enjoyment of fundamental rights. If passed in its currently defective state, it is feared that the proposed law will pose the greatest threat to the enjoyment of fundamental rights such as free expression, access to information and citizens right to privacy as provided for in Zimbabwe’s Bill of Rights. Remarks by Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo in March this year while addressing senior military commissioned officers at the Zimbabwe Military Academy in Gweru, that the military would soon start snooping into private communications between citizens to “guard against subversion” as social media has become a threat to national security, are telling in that regard. Among its contentious provisions is the proposed use of forensic tools such as the key stroke logger without being clear on how and under what circumstances the method would be applied as well as its failure to provide for judicial oversight or other accountability measures for monitoring and reviewing the potential abuse of the use of such intrusive technologies. It also does not have specific safeguards for whistleblowers which exposes individuals providing information in the public interest. The Bill should also be split into two separate laws, to deal with cyber security and data protection respectively. This will make it easy to strike a strategic balance between security concerns and digital rights. It is MISA Zimbabwe’s well-considered view that the Bill in its current state, entrenches a securocratic approach towards internet governance as opposed to a pro-human rights approach in 7