It is therefore MISA Zimbabwe’s hope that the ministry will be more willing to engage on these issues going forward and more so in the aftermath of the enactment of the Data Protection Act in 2021. This is of vital importance for purposes of addressing Zimbabwe’s high data costs which have a bearing on citizens’ right to internet access, free expression online and access to information, especially for marginalised communities. Media sustainability The issue of media sustainability remains of great concern, not only in Zimbabwe, but in the southern African region and globally. This situation has been worsened in the wake of the ravages and disruptive nature of the Covid-19 pandemic on business and the socio-economic wellbeing of nations. As noted in our 2021 report: Impact of Covid-19 on Media Sustainability, the issue of the viability of the private media (newspapers), preceded the Covid-19 crisis but was only worsened by the advent of the pandemic. Produced in partnership with the Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung, the report focuses specifically on countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Lesotho and Tanzania. The report stresses the urgent need for judicious and greater funding of media institutions in the wake of dwindling newspaper street sales, advertising revenue, salary cuts for media workers and retrenchments. The long and short of it, is the urgent need for a Rescue Fund. This has been demonstrated by South Africa’s state-supported Media Development and Diversity Agency. In Zimbabwe such funds may be harnessed from the Broadcasting Fund and the Media Development Fund. Strict lockdown measures saw declines in purchases and distribution of newspapers which in some instances were already limping. The argument has been made on the need for newspapers to migrate to online platforms. While migration to online platforms will reduce distribution costs, the question, however, is whether this will also result in more or increased advertising revenue. 11