World Press Freedom Day Commemorations MISA Zimbabwe together with the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) coordinated the World Press Freedom Day commemorations through online platforms as well as radio, television and print media. The main event was broadcast on ZBC television on Sunday, 3 May 2020, and the panel comprised the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa, then MAZ chairperson Tabani Moyo, media lawyer Chris Mhike. Presentations and discussions were informed by the local theme: Independent & safe media key to access to information for all, and the universal theme: Journalism without Fear or Favour. On Monday 4 May there was a radio programme on Star FM prime time where the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Nick Mangwana featured along with the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, MAZ Programmes Manager Nigel Nyamutumbu and ZACRAS co-ordinator Vivienne Marara-Zhangazha. The programme reflected on the state of media law reforms as part of efforts to push for enactment of democratic media laws. MISA/MAZ also organised radio programmes through MISA Zimbabwe advocacy committees in Gweru, Mutare, Kwekwe and Chinhoyi. The programmes were on 98.4 FM, Diamond FM and Nyaminyami FM. This was an innovative intervention to continue with commemorations and planned activities in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Advocacy Committees came up with various topics which were informed by the main theme of the commemorations. The themes focused on how safety of journalists is critical to access to information especially during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Impact Panellists drawn from both state and non-state actors reiterated the need to report without fear and favour and urged government and security forces to respect the work of journalists by not hindering them as was the case when the lockdown started. Panellists also reiterated the need for Personal Protective Equipment to enable effective news gathering by journalists and improve access to information. Subsequently, MISA Zimbabwe managed to secure Personal Protective Equipment for media workers throughout the country. Media Support • Renewable Energy Project A two-day Editor’s Symposium on reporting on Renewable Energy, Climate Change and Natural Disasters held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on 2526 June 2020, brought together 20 practicing media practitioners (editors and journalists ) from across the country. The symposium was held against a background of an upsurge of reporting on renewable energy and climate change among the country’s media institutions, but with low reporting on natural disasters. 22