Programme E: Legal Support (M&E Framework Report for the period April 2003 to March 2004) NATIONAL: Regional Programme Goal Regional Programme Objectives Fight criminal defamation and insult laws and support cases where such laws are used • • REGIONAL OBJECTIVE Advance media freedom through strategic legal action Influencing public opinion through exposure of court cases against media practitioners who receive legal funds through MISA PERFORMANC E INDICATORS MAJOR ACTIVITIES REMARK/COMMENTS (ACTUAL/ACHIEVED) 1. Strategic legal action in support of cases challenging criminal defamation and insult laws. 1. Support given to journalist in South Africa to challenge subpoena to appear before commission of inquiry. Funds provided, but High Court decision was unfavourable. • South Africa • Zimbabwe 2. Support to various Zimbabwe Constitutional challenges to certain clauses of AIPPA Funds provided to AIJZ case, but Supreme Court decision was unfavourable. 2. Country specific legal assistance provided thro ugh National Legal Defence Funds: Zambia Zimbabwe 1. Provide funds for legal assistance • 3. Set up or continue to run media Legal Defence Funds (LDF). Botswana Lesotho Mozambique Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe 1. Set up LDF 2. Run existing LDF • • MISA Annual Report (April 2003 – March 2004) • • Court challenge failed as High Court ruling was favourable, but the journalist was not required to appear before the commission. The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe ruling dealt a heavy blow to free expression in the country. Assistance to “The Monitor” and Omega TV given (Zambia). Possible assistance to National Mirror in Zambia Assistance to many journalists in Zimbabwe was given. For many of the arrested journalists in Zimbabwe, the support provided through the LDF has been most welcome as it appears that most of the arrests were carried out to harass them as part of an effort to silence them. Funds set in Mozambique and Tanzania, but failed in Lesotho Existing LDFs in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe Lesotho LDF will be set up with assistance from the Law Society which experienced internal problems which appear to have now been resolved. 95