cannot afford to be normalised or tolerated as an inevitable aspect of online discourse, nor contemporary audience-engaged journalism. (26) Self-censorship is a result of sustained intimidation and threats, which often lead to journalists toning down on what stories they cover. A yet to be published report carried out by MISA-Zimbabwe reports how female journalists tend to post less over time. The arrests of journalists for allegedly publishing false data messages or contravening the Cyber and Data Protection Act have a chilling effect on how journalists operate and post online. This could be attributed to the chilling effect based on their experience on social media although this study does give reasons for this reduction. Conclusion A lot of commendable work has been done in engaging security services over the safety of journalists. The regulatory and operating environment is quite constraining in Zimbabwe, giving rise to self-censorship. Offline and online abuse of female journalists could also be contributing to self censorship. This could be a blueprint for a safety mechanism for journalists both in Zimbabwe and the region. It is imperative that engagements between the police and journalists be sustained over the coming years so that the gains of the past year are not reversed. References 1. Rebuilding Trust in Media: Conference for Media Practitioners, Academics, and 15. Conflict-induced digital shutdowns lawful https://www.herald.co.zw/conflict-in- Policymakers duced-digital-shutdowns-lawful/ https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/rebuilding-trust-media-confer- ence-media-practitioners-academics-and-policymakers 16. Request 2. Zimbabwean media pledge to uphold ethical standards in covering 2023 elec- for implementation plan for fair and balanced coverage during elections https:// tion zimbabwe.misa.org/2022/01/26/request-for-implementation-plan-for-fair-and- https://zimbabwe.misa.org/2023/08/16/zimbabwean-media-pledge-to-up- hold-ethical-standards-in-covering-2023-election/ balanced-coverage-during-elections/ 3. Elections reporting and peace journalism manual https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ 17. European ark:/48223/pf0000385484 Union Election Observation Mission Zimbabwe https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/de- 4. Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill: Is history repeating fault/files/documents/2023/250823-EU%20EOM%20PS%20ZIM.pdf itself? 18. Preliminary https://zimbabwe.misa.org/2023/06/21/criminal-law-codification-and-re- form-amendment-bill-is-history-repeating-itself/ statement 5. UN experts urge President of Zimbabwe to reject bill restricting civic space SEOM%20-2023%20PRELIMINARY_STATEMENT-Revised%20adopted-25%20Au- https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/02/un-experts-urge-presi- gust%202023%2012pt.pdf dent-zimbabwe-reject-bill-restricting-civic-space 19. Joint statement on the 6. Cabinet okays 2 media bills https://www.herald.co.zw/cabinet-okays-2-media- media bills/ org/2019/04/03/joint-statement-on-the-media-law-reforms-processes-and-en- 7. The authoritarian roots of Zim’s surveillance laws https://www.newsday.co.zw/ gagements/ theindependent/opinion/article/200021984/the-authoritarian-roots-of-zims-sur- 20. 14 newly licensed radio stations form association https://www.chronicle. veillance-laws co.zw/14-newly-licensed-radio-stations-form-association/ 8. SC14-13 - CONSTANTINE CHIMAKURE and VINCENT KAHIYA and ZIMIND PUB- 21. A New Era or Error? Community Radio Licensing in Zimbabwe: LISHERS (PVT) LTD vs THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF ZIMBABWE https://lawpor- Issues, Dynamics, and Sustainability Challenges https://www.researchgate.net/ talzim.co.zw/cases/civil/691/constantine-chimakure-and-vincent-kahiya-and-zi- deref/https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1080%2F19376529.2023.2246140?_ mind-publishers-pvt-ltd/the-attorney-general-of-zimbabwe tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGF- 9. Judge ends Persecution of Chin’ono in Landmark Decision which Humiliates Mag- nZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicHJldmlvdXNQYWdlIjoicHVibGljYXRpb24ifX0 law https://www.sadc.int/sites/default/files/2023-08/ZIMBABWE%20 reforms processes and engagements https://zimbabwe.misa. istrate Ncube https://www.zlhr.org.zw/?p=2356 22. Coming out of the shadows: The untold stories of sexual 10. Ahead of Wednesday’s general elections, Zimbabweans are experiencing inter- harassment in Zimbabwe’s media net disruption https://techcabal.com/2023/08/22/zimbabwe-internet-disruption/ https://cloud.freiheit.org/index.php/s/7SdSZK6dwKLGbGS 11. No, the Zimbabwean govt has not disrupted the internet ahead of election day, 23. it’s something else https://www.techzim.co.zw/2023/08/no-zim-govt-has-not-dis- sheet-sexual-harassment-in-zimbabwe-media/ rupted-internet-ahead-of-elections-its-something-else/ 24. ZBC 12. Zimbabwe shutdown: What is behind the protests? https://www.bbc.com/ investigates ‘sex pests’ https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local-news/arti- news/world-africa-367764 cle/200018306/zbc-investigates-sex-pests 13. Zimbabwe protests after petrol and diesel price hike https://www.bbc.com/ 25. ZBC CEO resigns https://www.herald.co.zw/zbc-ceo-resigns/ news/world-africa-46862194 26. The Chilling: global trends in online violence against 14. Internet slowdown limits coverage of Zimbabwe opposition rally https:// women netblocks.org/reports/internet-slowdown-limits-coverage-of-zimbabwe-opposi- ark:/48223/pf0000377223 Factsheet: Sexual harassment in Zimbabwe Media https://zimfact.org/fact- journalists; research discussion paper https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ tion-rally-oy9Ykoy3 99 STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023