• • had 119 views. The sessions on POPI Act in South Africa and Curbing Disinformation and Misinformation: A platform perspective can be accessed on this link. The sessions reached 170 people and recorded 172 views. The sessions on Acquisition and Deployment of Surveillance tools by African governments and Metadata: Should Africa worry, are accessible on this link. The sessions reached 672 people and recorded 182 views. World Press Freedom Day Commemorations Policy brief meetings with MPs drawn from the Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, were held in Nemamwa in Masvingo, Matopos in Matabeleland South, Victoria Falls in Matabeleland North, Insukamini in Lower Gweru, Silobela in Midlands, Zvishavane in Midlands, Tsvingwe in Manicaland and Domboshawa on the outskirts of Harare. The meetings were held on 8 May 2021. A total of 510 participants participated in the meetings and 237 were female while 294 were youths. MISA Zimbabwe took advantage of the World Press Freedom Day Commemorations to promote access to information by bridging the gap between media and marginalised communities and how citizens can use the media to raise their issues. For instance, in Matopo`s, a community member said they only saw journalists if an important politician was visiting the area. This highlighted the information gap in marginalised communities. The residents told Senator Esther Nyathi that their area had no internet access or radio access. The legislator pledged to push their concerns in parliament. During the meetings, citizens also got feedback on the status of Bills such as the then Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill and newly enacted laws, notably the Freedom of Information Act and Zimbabwe Media Commission Act, from MPs drawn from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services. Results/Impact Following these meetings in May, Honourable Esther Nyathi, told a parliamentary meeting in Mutare on 10 June 2021, convened to present and brief stakeholders on the Draft Zimbabwe Media Practitioners Bill and co-regulation of the media, that there was need for more transmitters and community radio stations in Matopos. In attendance during the Mutare meeting was the Permanent Secretary for Information, Nick Mangwana and BAZ chief executive officer, Matthias Chakanyuka. This means the concerns raised during the May 2021 MP policy brief meetings, were brought to the attention of the appropriate authorities for consideration. She said these concerns had been raised during the MISA Zimbabwe-organised MP community visits which coincided with the World Press Freedom Day Commemorations. 25