Most of ZACRAS’ initiatives focused on strengthening their community base in terms of membership and community participation and support. The period under review saw the initiatives increase their community activities with the production of newsletters and audio CDs focusing on the community’s opinion about critical national issues, such as the elections, food shortages, the deterioration of social services and price increases on basic commodities. In South Africa, the MISA chapter assisted Soweto Community Television in establishing its structures. MISA South Africa is now assisting the station and two others with sustainability issues and programming. Broadcasting reform and policy advocacy In its efforts to promote public broadcasting, MISA South Africa was actively involved in the campaign activities of the Save Our SABC (SOS) Coalition, a grouping of civil society and other organisations seeking to restore public broadcasting at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). The coalition has carried out several activities, including oral and written submissions to Parliament in an attempt to influence policy reform pertaining to the SABC. In Lesotho, the MISA chapter made written submissions to government on the Communications Bill, calling for an independent regulator and the transformation of state broadcasting media into public media. The submission bore fruit as some of MISA Lesotho’s recommendations were incorporated in the drafting of the law. After many years of campaigning, MISA Malawi succeeded in having the Communications Act reviewed by government. During consultative meetings, the chapter proposed changes in the appointment of the boards of the state broadcasters, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and TV Malawi, as well as the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), to ensure a transparent process that does not compromise their independence. In April 2008, MISA Zambia appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Broadcasting and made submissions on the draft Broadcasting Bill and the draft Broadcasting Policy. Consequently, in its report released in November 2008, the committee urged the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services to expeditiously appoint members of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and to implement the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Amendment Act. MISA Zambia also continued to advocate for the implementation of the IBA and ZNBC (Amendment) Acts by issuing six statements calling for the implementation of the stalled legislation. The Zambian chapter also met with the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services in an effort to influence government action. In February 2009, MISA Zambia held a three-day workshop on development journalism for ZNBC staff in Lusaka, aimed at introducing employees working in news and current affairs to the practice of development journalism within the context of public service broadcasting. In Namibia, the MISA chapter played a major supporting role in initiating the process to establish a self-regulatory mechanism for broadcasters. This was to pre-empt the government’s threat to set up statutory regulation if broadcasters failed to regulate themselves, formally. It is also aimed at promoting professionalism among broadcasters, as a majority of the population relies on radio stations, especially, for information. 26 Annual Report 2009