distribution to the members and donors in September, just before the MISA AGM. Under Programme A: Freedom of Expression and the Right to Information Campaign, MISA targeted the repeal of the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport through engaging parliamentarians from countries in the SADC region through cooperating with SADC Parliamentary Forum with whom a joint workshop was held in November 2002. AT country level, MISA Botswana engaged the government which later requested the newly established Media Council to draft a Mass Media Bill. In Mozambique, the national chapter organised meetings at provincial level to campaign for an Access to State Information legislation, while in Swaziland the chapter published a booklet on unfriendly media laws following research and workshops with various stakeholders. In Zimbabwe, MISA Zimbabwe has continued to campaign against the draconian Public Order and Security Act and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act which was passed by the government in January and March 2002 respectively. The most success was recorded in Zambia where the government was pressured to bring the Access to Information bill to parliament following the presentation of a private member’s bill on the same subject which the chapter had managed to get drafted and supported by many MPs. In Programme B: Media Freedom Monitoring, MISA continued to issue Action Alerts during the period under review with violations taking place in Zimbabwe dominating the reports which are distributed via the IFEX network. and also launched the SADC Journalists Under Fire Campaign which seeks to assist journalists who are subject to media freedom violations. In Programme C: Campaign for Broadcasting Diversity, MISA continued to use its “Free the Airwaves” campaign which was revamped to incorporate the African Charter on Broadcasting principles. The Right to Communicate Campaign was also launched during the period with billboards being erected in three countries: Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. These billboards have attracted a lot of attention which will continue to be followed up with other media campaigns. In Zimbabwe, campaigns for the liberation of the airwaves have been taken to the provinces while in Malawi programmes have been aired on commercial radio urging a change in the operation of the state radio and television broadcasters. Zambia saw the enactment of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act which provides for independent broadcasting regulation while the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Act was also amended to allow for more independence for the national broadcaster which is currently operating under strict state control. 3