MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region experienced some relief with the dawn of Zimbabwe’s unity government in February 2009. Media freedom in the region benefited from the ensuing stability and some sense of saneness, while there was also a relaxation on the banning of foreign media and intimidation of the media lessened. The unity government has allowed for an opening space for engagement, stretching from constitutional to media law reform. Overall, however, threats remain: the state media in Zimbabwe continues to be biased and journalists still face arrest. Marches and demonstrations are banned and the sporadic arrest of citizens still occurs. MISA’s country offices, which faced governance and management challenges, have stabilised and there has been a smooth implementation of programmes and activities. MISA Angola remains a challenge in terms of dealing with policy and media reform, as well as mobilising members to rally behind its advocacy work. However, gains are being made in establishing dialogue with government and monitoring media freedom violations. The organisational development (OD) process, which will be completed before the end of 2009, will bring about some drastic changes, including making MISA’s structures leaner, smaller and more efficient. The OD process also brought about the necessary synergy for the organisation to operate smoothly and efficiently in terms of the various structures communicating better with one another. The Regional Secretariat now has a strong and direct link to the chapters for operations and reporting. The Trust Fund Board (TFB) will have a closer oversight role on the management and governance of the organisation in order to ensure that the organisation fulfils its objective to promote and protect media freedom in the region. Beyond the year under review, MISA is embarking upon a new strategic planning process for the next funding phase. The current funding comes to an end in March 2010 and MISA’s traditional financial support partners are being approached about funding for the next five years, with positive prospects. However, a concerted effort is also being made to broaden MISA’s support base. Capacity is another critical area of priority for the organisation, and resources and energy are being pushed in this direction to ensure that staff in the regional and country offices have the necessary skills and knowledge to implement MISA’s programmes. Our vision will never be attained without knowledgeable people. Media is the lifeblood of democracy and a key pillar of transparency and accountability. By providing information, the media can help to empower citizens to manage their own lives. Thus, MISA must intensify its campaigns to ensure that media freedom is promoted and advanced. Kaitira Kandjii MISA Regional Director 10 Annual Report 2009