This project served to highlight and bring into the public arena issues of media freedom and journalists' rights under the constitution. This project contributed to the creation of an enabling legislative environment for media freedom through the specific lobbying efforts of the partners. The threat that another journalist might be placed in the same situation does still exist although the level of debate and protestation that occurred means that the judiciary will probably consider very carefully the merits of such action in the future. Tanzania The specific objectiv e of this programme area during this reporting period was the Establishment of a representative Legal Defence Fund for media practitioners and institutions with the aim of protecting freedom of expression through legal assistance. The outputs of this project were all realized in terms of proposed modalities of the establishment of Legal Fund, identifying potential supporters from private sector i.e. LDF Committee Members and Legal Defence Team. Out of these committees a Legal Adviser was identified. Afte r an NGC resolution to open a bank account, approval by Registrar of Societies (Ministry of Home Affairs) and the actual opening of a separate bank account for the LDF with funds received from the MISA Regional Secretariat were also accomplished. Meetings for supporters/stakeholders were held to chart out the way forward and to strategize ways to raise more funds for sustainability. Zambia Under this activity a number of meetings were held by the Media Legal Defense Fund committee to determine the eligibility of the applicants to the fund. The Monitor applied for legal representation in a matter in which the paper had been sued and found guilty of libel against three Human Rights Commissioners in a story published in the paper two years ago. The committee endorsed that the Monitor goes ahead to hire a lawyer of their choice to plead for the money to be paid in instalments. The Editor of the Today Newspaper, Masautso Phiri applied for legal representation from the MLDF on two cases. He had two cases which were that he had been served with call-outs to report to Police Force headquarters and feared that he would be charged with “publishing false news with intent to cause alarm and despondency”. The Committee noted that the case was brought prematurely because the case had not yet reached the courts and there were no figures to the application. MISA Zambia is fighting the closure of Omega TV by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting services. Two lawyers have been engaged to defend the organization. MISA Zambia is also considering an application for legal representation from the National Mirror over a case where the Minister of lands has sued the paper for libel. MISA Annual Report (April 2003 – March 2004) 93