MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE MISA TRUST FUND BOARD The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has continued in its quest to ensure the enjoyment of media freedom and freedom of expression in southern Africa. The past year marked the mid-point of the second MISA Strategic Partnership Programme (SPP2) and, as such, it was time to review the five-year plan to determine whether its implementation was still on track, highlight the major challenges faced in the implementation of the strategic plan and recommend ways to improve the programme’s implementation. We are glad to report that that the mid-term evaluation found that the implementation of SPP2 is on course, and notable successes have already been registered in the different countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The evaluators reported that MISA has, throughout the region, established itself as an indispensable actor in the fight for media freedom, freedom of expression and democracy in general. MISA has continued to be a visible and active player in the media policy arena, and the evaluation found growing evidence that governments are now recognising MISA as a critical player in the deepening of democracy in southern Africa. Recognition of the organisation as a critical partner by governments in SADC is an important milestone for MISA, after growing accustomed to being viewed with suspicion and scepticism. MISA’s publications, produced regionally and locally, have continued to add to the organisation’s high profile and visibility, as they are now key resources for various stakeholders, including media/journalism departments in universities, donor organisations, and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). MISA Zimbabwe must be commended for doing an excellent job under crippling economic circumstances as well as facing a government that is increasingly limiting alternative voices. MISA notes that at the end of the period under review (31 March 2008), despite the increasingly unfriendly media environment in Zimbabwe, no media practitioners were in prison. However, a surge in detentions and arrests followed after the March 2008 parliamentary and presidential elections and the June 2008 presidential run-off. The chapter continued to support journalists by, among others, issuing alerts, representing them in court and visiting them in prison. MISA Zimbabwe, we applaud you. The year 2008 is an election year in MISA and new national and regional governors will be ushered in. Let me take this opportunity to welcome everyone to the MISA family and hope that each individual with make it his or her mission to strengthen and expand on the achievements gained by this organisation since 1994, while also addressing the challenges it continuously faces. In the same vein, I urge all MISA stakeholders, including the membership in each country where MISA is represented, and members of staff both at the regional and national levels, to continue working towards ensuring that media freedom and freedom of expression becomes a reality in southern Africa. 4 Annual Report 2008