MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE MISA TRUST FUND BOARD MISA has continued to monitor, document, report and analyse media policy developments within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, particularly changes in regulatory regimes. Such analysis has been critical because changes to media policy and regulatory regimes can either free up or constrain the media and the role that it plays in the public sphere. Media policies are significant indicators of the democratic character of each society. Thus, the enactment of the Media Practitioners’ Act in Botswana at the end of 2008 can be regarded as a major setback not only for media freedom and freedom of expression, but to the general democratic character of that society. The violent attacks on media practitioners and closure of Mwanahalisi newspaper in Tanzania further highlight the growing tensions between the authorities and the private media in the region. Such developments speak of the growing trend in resistance to the entrenchment of media freedom and freedom of expression in several SADC countries, including those where the media environment has been friendlier in the past. The entire SADC region is experiencing a period of transformation, which has resulted in governments becoming more entrenched. Often we have found that our governments overlook the key role that media plays in holding governments accountable. MISA is invariably caught up in this process and is required to play a more active role in capacitating and empowering media stakeholders, while also enhancing the public’s ability to access information and participate in social, political and economic development processes. Looking inward MISA has experienced unprecedented growth in 2008/2009. This period of growth has been characterised by a more focussed approach to programming, corporate governance and advocacy for media freedom and freedom of expression. This kind of growth and development requires improved oversight from governing bodies, especially the Trust Fund Board (TFB). Our funding has increased during the second phase of the Strategic Special Partnership (SPPII), as has our responsibility to be more accountable to our funding partners. This has resulted in added pressure on the various MISA structures. The TFB has, therefore, stepped up its involvement in the governance of the various structures of the organisation. A recent example would be the TFB’s involvement with the development and review of the corporate governance roles and mandates of the various structures of the organisation. We are also looking to the future and are conscious of the need to build the capacity of national chapters to be more responsive to the needs of their membership, i.e. the media in the region. 4 Annual Report 2009