This situation imposes immense responsibilities on President Mnangagwa as it demands his urgent attention of which demonstration of leadership skills and qualities should be the key driver to the rebranding of Zimbabwe. ❖ Media Environment The fact that the year under review passed without the envisaged media law and policy reforms posed as a serious indictment on the government’s commitment to implementing these reforms in line with the 2013 Constitution. These socio-economic and political reforms are critical in underpinning the enjoyment and protection of fundamental rights in line with internationally recognised declarations and principles. It goes without saying that they are at the core of Zimbabwe unlocking critical foreign direct investment and international goodwill to kick-start its ailing economy and generate employment. Implementation of these reforms ahead of the 2018 elections would have been a progressive milestone in entrenching citizens’ rights to freedom of assembly, association, access to information and free expression. It would have also gone a long way in exorcising the country of the ghost of its continuously disputed election outcomes. It is against the background of the stalled reforms and lack of political will to ditch Mugabe’s tattered legacy, that MISA Zimbabwe cautiously welcomed President Mnangagwa’s mention of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA), as among other laws that would be amended during the session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe. In his State of the Nation Address when he officially opened the First Session of the 9 th Parliament in Harare on 18 September 2018, the Zanu PF leader also spoke on the need to finalise and debate new Bills such as the Cybersecurity and Cybercrimes Bill, the Data Protection Bill and the Electronic Transactions and Electronic Commerce Bill. MISA Zimbabwe has consistently called for the amendment of the now outdated BSA and AIPPA, to ensure among other considerations, it reflects the technologically driven changes the broadcasting sector has gone through. There were also plans to table the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) Bill during this parliamentary session. The ZMC is currently established in terms of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). However, the 2013 Constitution requires that the Commission be guided by a formal Act of Parliament that empowers ZMC. 7