Press statements and missions MISA continues to issue press statements on media and freedom of expression violations as well other media issues in the region. In countries where governments lend an ear to civil society, statements remain an effective tool for expressing concern on a number of issues. In Zambia, for example, 16 statements were issued; in Mozambique seven; and in Swaziland six. In Swaziland the pressure exerted by the local MISA office through statements resulted in the chapter being invited to provide input on the new media law reform programme. In November 2007 in Zimbabwe, MISA succeeded in bringing to the country the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression at the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), Advocate Pansy Tlakula, to investigate the beating of journalists. Advocate Tlakula held meetings with MISA Zimbabwe as well as journalist Tsvangirai Mukwazhi. She later wrote a letter to President Robert Mugabe protesting the bad treatment of journalists in the counrty. Such actions of the ACHPR are a result of statements and alerts produced by MISA, as well as follow up actions. Statements have also been used in Mozambique to maintain pressure on the threat to independence of private magazines as well as threats to journalist Celso Manguana. In Swaziland, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Tanzania, the local MISA offices produce quarterly magazines focusing on media and freedom of expression issues in their countries. These serve as important platforms for debate and information. MISA Zimbabwe is producing its own ‘state of the media’ reports. On a month-by-month basis, the local Zimbabwe office produces an electronic copy titled ‘Monthly alerts digest’ on the state of the media and freedom of expression in Zimbabwe. To subscribe to the newsletter write to misa@ misazim.co.zw Lessons Learnt MISA has learnt that media and freedom of expression violations need to be looked at holistically and broadly, and should not only focus on media workers. This is because in many southern African countries, especially Zimbabwe and to some extent South Africa, civil society and communities increasingly find it difficult to express themselves without being threatened, arrested, beaten and detained. A key lesson is that media and freedom of expression rights can only be guaranteed in a free society where the meaning of these rights is appreciated. MISA also realises the need to use multi-information platforms to speak about media and freedom of expression rights. The alerts system has to incorporate other means of communication, such as SMS technology, in countries like Zimbabwe where violations are a daily occurrence. MISA faces the challenge of slow internet connectivity in most of its national offices, which can make contact difficult. MISA also recognises that media and freedom of expression violations are not always as overt as arrests and beatings, but can include the marginalisation of other voices, such as women. Beyond 2008 MISA is planning further staff training on expanding the media and freedom of expression violations monitoring to include monitoring the coverage of women and other vulnerable groups in society. MISA is also planning to explore how information communication technologies (ICTs) can be used to publicise media and freedom of expression violations in southern Africa. MISA aims to embark upon thematic research on media and freedom of expression issues as a way of assisting planning actions throughout the year. 20 Annual Report 2008