Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and not the Minister of Communications as originally proposed. B3. In 2002 one of the significant victories for media freedom and freedom of expression was recorded in Zambia. Years of sustained campaigning for media law reforms, led by the Zambia chapter of MISA, appear to be bearing fruit with the lodging in parliament of three private members bills, i.e. the Independent Broadcasting Authority Bill, Freedom of Expression Bill and the Broadcasting Bill. But before we give the Zambian government a standing ovation for the media law reform process, it must be noted that Section 69 of the Zambian Penal Code, which creates the offence of criminal libel against the president, continues to be flagrantly applied. The mistreatment of journalists by police and political party cadres continued unabated in 2002 and the government is still very eager to keep its hold on and control of the state broadcaster. Section 69 remains one of the biggest hindrances to free media practice in Zambia. The Zambian Chapter reports that there was an increase in the harassment of the Monitor newspaper, which was seen, as critical of the MMD government. This hostility intensified during the December 2002 to January 2003 period when the State appeared determined to silence the Monitor. In March 2003, a one-day workshop on the rights of journalists was held in Lusaka. Twenty-three people from both the state-owned and private media attended. Presentations emphasising the need for journalists to claim their rights were made. One of the major outcomes of the workshop was the need for information sharing among journalists about violations of media freedom, the need for speedier reporting of media violations and greater media publicity of the rights of journalists. In the rest of the region only the names of the journalists and the media institutions targeted may differ, for the attacks suffered were similar, ongoing and have in some cases intensified. B4. In Lesotho the media freedom situation is littered with legal and financial hurdles. The media is fearful of court settlements or unfavourable rulings against them, which have contributed to the folding of a number of publications while crippling others financially. B5. In Mozambique, the murder of Carlos Cardoso on November 20 2000, has scarred that country’s image irreparably. Earlier this year heavy sentences were passed – between 24 and 26 years – on the accused. The question remains whether the president’s son, Nymphine Chissano, who was also 13