“ We thank the GFMD members for this recognition of MISA’s role as an advocacy brand that serves a multiplicity of stakeholders in the region under complex environments… despite facing numerous challenges such as the closure of our regional office in Namibia in 2015, and subsequent relocation of its offices to Zambia in 2018, and Zimbabwe in 2021, respectively. “ We are an evolving institution that continues to register recognisable impact under difficult circumstances,” said Moyo. “ We are driven by the value proposition of being the thought leader, knowledge institution and expertise organisation. I think this bears testimony to our humble efforts in living up to this commitment. “Once again, I’m grateful to the membership for bestowing this leadership mantle on fellow steering committee members and myself for the four-year tenure of office, which, hopefully will position the media development agenda and complexities of the continent on the global stage.” MISA is also a member of the Multi-Stakeholder Co-ordinating Team of the Southern African Development Community Internet Governance Forum (SAIGF) and also serves on the IFEX Governing Council. Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Submissions MISA Zimbabwe has made two submissions to the Third Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Zimbabwe, where it noted improvements in the legislative environment, but decried the pullback provisions in proposed new laws that have the effect of infringing on freedom of expression, such as the then Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. https://zimbabwe.misa.org/2021/07/22/misa-double-barrelled-submission-to-upr-on-zimbabwe/ Lesotho journalism safety and security trainings As highlighted earlier in this report, MISA held a safety and security training meeting in Lesotho on the 28th of July 2021. Lesotho was chosen as it is the next country that will hold elections in the region in September 2022. The Minister of Communication, Science and Technology, Honorable Ts’unyane Rapapa, who was the guest of honour, affirmed the need to promote the safety and security of journalists and called on all stakeholders to promote media freedom. He noted that sustainable governments are those that uphold human rights and bear the fundamental responsibility to ensure that journalists are free to practise without interference. Further, he also noted the dangers that female journalists particularly face as they are sometimes asked for sexual favours in exchange for sources or in exchange for jobs in the media industry. Results/Impact The Portfolio Committee in Lesotho recommended a withdrawal of the Computer Crimes and Cybersecurity Bill and that the Minister revisits the Bill and ensure that it is not an omnibus law which is 22