REGIONAL: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND RIGHT TO INFORMATION Regional Programme Goal Establishment of a region where freedom of expression and the Right to Information are accepted as human rights Regional Programme Establishment of a region where freedom of expression and media freedom is practiced and guaranteed Objectives PERFORMANCE INDICATORS REGIONAL OBJECTIVE MAJOR ACTIVITIES REMARK/COMMENTS (ACTUAL/ACHIEVED) 4. May 3 World Press Freedom Day 4.1 Celebration on topical theme is being Events took in all countries of the SADC As an annual activity, MISA secretariat • Botswana carried out in all countries in the region and chapters use WPFD as an • Lesotho SADC region. opportunit y to highlight media freedom • Malawi 4.2 Release, regionally, of state of media and freedom of expression issues in the • Mozambique freedom report region. • Namibia 4.3 Efforts made to contextualise • Swaziland international themes • Tanzania 4.4 Efforts made to include large • Zambia number of organisations in activities • Zimbabwe NATIONAL: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND RIGHT TO INFORMATION Regional Programme Goal Establishment of a region where freedom of expression and the Right to Information are accepted as human rights Regional Programme Establishment of a region where freedom of expression and media freedom is practiced and guaranteed Objectives PERFORMANCE INDICATORS NATIONAL OBJECTIVE MAJOR ACTIVITIES REMARK/COMMENTS (ACTUAL/ACHIEVED) Botswana 1.1 Held two meetings on Mass Media • Consultative meetings on the Mass Discussed with Minister why current draft Bill, in May and August Media Bill took place in Gaborone. Media Bill was unacceptable. MISA with 1. Campaign against the passing of the 1.2 Participated in two Media Advisory August 2003. other stakeholders succeeded in blocking Mass Media Bill Council meetings with government the tabling in parliament and the passing chaired by Minister of of the Mass Media Bill. So far the Bill is Communications Science and shelved and MISA in conjunction with the Technology. Press Council has been requested by the Minister to propose a media legislation to replace the Mass Media Bill. MISA Annual Report (April 2003 – March 2004) 28