Media freedom monitoring and research With the exception of Angola, Tanzania, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, the external media environment in most of the southern African region remained unchanged and relatively stable. In the year under review, MISA had to contend with a rapidly changing situation in Zimbabwe, where the March 2008 presidential election was followed in June by a violent by-election, boycotted by the opposition and in which media freedom and freedom of expression rights were trampled upon with impunity. Zambia faced challenges relating to the deterioration of government and media relations before the November 2008 presidential by-election. Attacks on the private newspaper, The Post, intensified in 2009 with the ruling party, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), virtually laying siege on the newspaper and beating its reporters and vendors at the slightest opportunity. In Tanzania, media freedom and freedom of expression were challenged with an attack on Saed Kubenea and the closure at the end of 2008 of the newspaper he edits, Mwanahalisi. There are growing tensions between the authorities and the small vibrant private media, especially Mwanahalisi, which spearheaded an investigation exposing corruption in the country. Swaziland remains a hotbed of discontent as King Mswati III and his court continue to suppress any forms of dissent expressed on civic society platforms or by political organisations. The media in Swaziland is increasingly under pressure to toe the line or face the consequences, and there is a general air of fear that has resulted in self-censorship and a deterioration in the quality of information reaching citizens. MISA maintained its presence in the region through monitoring and reporting media freedom and free expression violations, as well as assisting victims of such infringements. During the year, MISA issued 163 alerts covering media freedom and freedom of expression violations and related media developments in the region. A number of media organisations were assisted with legal support and training was given to journalists in Zimbabwe to help them deal with the repressive environment. Media monitoring and SADC Journalists under Fire campaign MISA continues to monitor the media and freedom of expression environment in southern Africa, issuing and disseminating alerts. This work has enabled the organisation to support journalists facing challenges in the region. In 2008-2009, 23 journalists received legal support, the majority of them in Zimbabwe. As part of the SADC Journalists under Fire campaign support was also rendered to Zimbabwe journalists through the provision of safe houses before the June 2008 elections, as well as safe places from which to operate. Under this campaign, MISA is supporting the case by the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) against the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in South Africa. This landmark case will define how far civil society can influence the democratic management of the SABC. 18 Annual Report 2009