outcome
Following the proclamation of the 2023 Zimbabwean elections on 31 May 2023 and the holding of the
elections on 23 August 2023 (a period usually characterised by a spike in media freedom violations), only
three (3) violations involving political actors were recorded.
No media violations involving the police or other security arms of the state were recorded during that
period.
The police also initiated weekly meetings with journalists to review the media operating environment as
well as exchange notes on issues that need to be addressed. This has also improved access to information
by journalists who need police comments to write stories.
These initiatives were acknowledge by the European Union delegation report which acknowledged that
MISA Zimbabwe’s engagements with the Zimbabwe Republic Police had seen an improved media operating environment during the 2023 elections.

http://www.eueomzimbabwe2023.eu.
https://tinyurl.com/y7fcebd2

Group photograph of stakeholders after a Kwekwe-media/police engagement meeting in February 2023

18

MISA Zimbabwe Annual Report 2023

Select target paragraph3