Her submission also signifies growing confidence by female legislators in the relevant Portfolio Committee to also make contributions during parliamentary processes. In the past female legislators in the Committee tended to take the back seat during such meetings. https://www.newzimbabwe.com/forgotten-matobo-villagers-still-rely-on-school-teachers-for-current-news/ https://www.herald.co.zw/councils-undoing-gains-of-information-free-flow/ Meanwhile, one of the parliamentarians that participated in the MPs policy briefs, Honourable Sipho Mokone, on 15 June 2021, moved a motion for parliament to consider Information as a public good in line with the 2021 Word Press Freedom Day universal theme. BROADCASTING DIVERSITY CAMPAIGN In December 2021 MISA Zimbabwe convened a broadcasting conference to dicuss the state of broadcasting in Zimbabwe and lobby policy makers to create a conducive operating environment for the sector. Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Honourable Kindness Paradza gave an update on the media legislative reforms as it pertained to the Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill, Zimbabwe Media Practitioners Bill and the digital migration process. Results/Impact The following recommendations were made at this conference as measures to continue promoting access to information and media freedom: • • • • • • • • • Provision of adequate funding to ensure complete migration to digital television. Government support in the provision of STBs to allow smooth transition from analogue to digital television. Providing support to community radio stations for the acquisition of equipment. Support training on multimedia journalism. Ensure that media houses rethink business models including adopting a converged structure. Promote digital initiatives or partnerships between media houses and telecoms companies. Media institutions to utilise unemployed graduates to support convergence. Convene a stakeholder conference to discuss the IMPI report and issues around co-regulation of the media and the Media Practitioners Bill. To provide support towards community radio stations for their training on drafting strategic plans, financial reporting, business plans and organizational policies among others. KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS • • • • • Impact of Government’s Covid-19 response on CSOs. Guide on relevant information for media and CSOs on Covid-19 in Zimbabwe. Briefer on regional and international best practices on Covid 19 responses. Covid-19 tracking applications and their implications on privacy. Covering Covid-19 – A Handbook for Journalists 26