Further, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Media Commission and UNESCO Regional Office Southern Africa, MISA engaged the media to re-commit to the ideals of professionalism while covering elections. This was drawn from MISA’s experiences in the Lesotho elections of 2022, where MISA Lesotho took leadership in mobilising the media to commit and recommit to professionalism while covering the election. Zimbabwe’s media, comprising state-owned, private and community media, campus radio stations and freelance journalists, committed themselves to the highest ethical standards in the coverage of the 2023 elections. Media advocacy groups and academics also appended their signatures to the Harmonised Elections Media Code of Conduct Pledge 2023 in Bulawayo on the 10th of August 2023. The pledge was endorsed by the Government of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Media Commission and political parties, among other critical stakeholders. PROGRAMMES Our programming was hinged on five programme areas which are: • Campaign for Freedom of Expression and the Right to Information- promotes legal reform and the introduction of new legislation to improve the protection and implementation of media freedom and the right to information. • Media Freedom Monitoring - monitors media freedom violations and developments and issues action alerts. Provides MISA with an important advocacy platform. • Campaign for Broadcasting Diversity-promotes an open system of broadcasting licensing, editorial independence and the introduction of a three-tier system of broadcasting comprising public, commercial and community broadcasting. • Media Support- aims to promote and enhance media accountability and professionalism. Seeks to create awareness of the need for a code of ethics and self-regulatory bodies. Also promotes professionalism in the media through media training initiatives. • Legal Support - Provides funds under the Media Defence Fund, for legal assistance to media practitioners and institutions with the aim of protecting freedom of expression. 6 MISA Zimbabwe Annual Report 2023