Internet access and affordability becomes key as well given the high data costs in Zimbabwe, to avert a situation where newspapers become privileged products that only the elite can afford. Such a situation cannot be countenanced given citizens’ right to free expression and speaking truth to power and holding government to account through the media’s watchdog role over public institutions. As highlighted in our 2020 State of the Media Report, the situation can be rescued in the form of tax/duty exemptions and moratoriums (over a realistically determined period), on newsprint and other mass media production and distribution equipment. The government should also consider reducing the registration and licensing fees for media houses, as well as doing away with some of the punitive duplicitous levies and fees charged in terms of the country’s regulatory framework. These inhibitive fees are paid to the Zimbabwe Media Commission, Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, Transmedia Corporation, Zimbabwe Music Rights Association and National Arts Council, over and above the taxes due to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. A Revolving Fund which is administered independently can also be established in that regard. Arrests, threats and harassment of journalists In 2021 there was marked reduction in the number of media freedom violations recorded by MISA Zimbabwe. In 2020 Zimbabwe witnessed an upsurge in the number of journalists that were harassed, intimidated, assaulted and detained by members of the police and the army while covering their lawful professional duties. The violations were particularly steep during the first six months of 2020 in the wake of the imposition of the country’s tight Covid-19 lockdown measures. Violations involving a total of 52 media workers including journalists, vendors and media students, were recorded in 2020 compared to 22 in 2021. 12