ZIMBABWE: SELF-CENSORSHIP AND ELECTIONS TAKE CENTRE STAGE Introduction T HE general elections of August 2023 in Zimbabwe marked a critical period for the nation — as this part of the electoral cycle is a period historically marred by violence against journalists and media workers. Past elections had seen attacks on journalists escalating, raising fears that the 2023 elections would be no different. The 2022 by-elections provided some kind of early warning system, as there were also several attacks against journalists by political parties and the security forces. Learning from past experiences and from warning signs from the 2022 by-elections, media support organisations took a proactive stance and held discussions with political parties and the police to ensure that the violence of past elections was not replicated in 2023. AUTHOR: Lesley Moyo 93 STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023