· Involving every one, that is, the executive, legislature, civic society, business and the general public in the appointment process of the regulator’s board. Way Forward in 2009 It is against the need for fundamental medial law reforms that more than 100 journalists and representatives of civic society organisations converged in Harare on 4 -5 December 2008 to forge a common strategy of coming up with a comprehensive media law and policy reform framework. The conference ended with a firm and unequivocal resolve by delegates not to support nor accept nominations to the proposed statutory Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) which retained statutory regulation of the media following the 2007 amendments to the repressive Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). The ZMC is still to be constituted. Guided by the principles on freedom of expression and access to information enshrined under the Banjul Declaration of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, Windhoek Declaration and African Charter on Broadcasting, delegates also called for a constitutional provision that explicitly guarantees media freedom and the repealing of repressive laws such as AIPPA, Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA). The delegates tasked the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) to identify a team of experts that will come up with the proposed model media law and policy framework. Delegates agreed to come up with co-ordinated campaigns, lobby and advocacy activities for the enactment of a constitutional provision that explicitly guarantees media freedom. In that regard strategic meetings and engagements with civic society organisations, parliament and media organisations will be held in 2009 to influence and implement the desired legislative and media policy reform agenda. v Conclusion Policies or any laws for that matter relating to the media should be guided and informed by the principles outlined under Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights which states that every individual shall have the right to receive information and the right to express and disseminate his opinions within the law. The Windhoek Declaration’s Article 9 also states that: African states should be encouraged to provide constitutional guarantees of freedom of the press and freedom of association and expression”. The issues raised in this report are evidential of the lack of progress and political will and sincerity to implement let alone comply with declarations that guarantee and protect fundamental human rights particularly media freedom, freedom of expression, assembly and association as critical to democratisation and economic development. Selfish political interests as opposed to committed leadership dedicated to unstintingly serving the people are at the core of these issues. The Parliament of Zimbabwe and the government when it is eventually put in place in terms of the Global Political Agreement, should prioritise these issues as key to the expectations of the citizens as well as recommit themselves to that cause as opposed to the points-scoring games that we continue to witness at the peril of the nation. 13