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 Objectives Establishment of a region where freedom of expression and media freedom is practiced and guaranteed PERFORMANCE INDICATORS NATIONAL OBJECTIVE MAJOR ACTIVITIES REMARK/COMMENTS (ACTUAL/ACHIEVED) Tanzania 1. Campaign to reform six pieces of legislation and enactment of Access to Information legislation Zambia 1. Re-introduction of the Freedom Information (FOI) bill in parliament. Zimbabwe 1. Campaign for the repeal of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) 1.1 Campaigning to adopt Freedom of Information Act, 1.2 Lobbying the government , media and public support of the six draft pieces of legislation found to impede the media 1.3 Seek inputs from the stakeholders. • Workshop held on defamation. • Workshop was held on Access to Information and Media Policy. • Workshop held on media legislation t hat restrict free expression and media freedom 1.1 Organise workshop and lobbying meeting with parliamentarians on the FOI 1.2 Organise media debate on the FOI bill and ZMBC amendment Act • A media debate on the ZNBC Amendment Act was held. Discussants were the ZNBC acting director general, • Participants expressed worry at the delay in taking the names of board members to Parliament for ratification. • A workshop held to sensitise parliamentarians on the progress of the media law reforms campaign and lobby them on the re-introduction of the FOI Bill to parliament. 1.1 Galvanise support of civil society organisations on repealing of Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). 1.2 Produce fact sheets on AIPPA and how it affects media. Produce law handbook 1.3 Publicity campaign on the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) 1.4 Produce a supplement on Freedom of Expression and Video on Media Freedom. • • • • MISA Annual Report (April 2003 – March 2004) • • • • Held workshop on AIPPA. Fact sheets produced Three Media Law Volumes produced Print media adverts on POSA ran from Feb- June 2003. Copy of legal analysis of POSA available. Database on POSA arrests/harassment available Held public meetings in major cities in Zimbabwe Workshop with MPs held. Relations with MPs improved. In collaboration with six other media organisations the Media Law Reform Project has, through its advocacy work, made the government release the Media Law Policy on 11 November 2003. Although the media policy contains 80 percent of media and stakeholders’ recommendations, it still has some shortcomings that need to be addressed. The Freedom of Information Bill that was presented to Parliament in late 2002 was debated till early 2003 and was then withdrawn from parliament. In May 2003, MISA re-launch the campaign to bring the FOI Bill back to parliament. MISA campaign against AIPPA workshop have e nergized other organizations to intensify their advocacy work around AIPPA. The chapter failed to produce a supplement on FoX and video on media freedom due to circumstances beyond its control The public meetings in the 6 provinces went well and were attended by an aggregate of around 4000 people. The chapter relations with MPs have greatly improved. The MPs now often approach MISA-Zimbabwe for research and opinions on media laws. 31