peaceful demonstrators. The enthusiasm that came with operationalisation of the Access to Information Act (ATI) has died down, as the government became secretive or closed at a time when the public expected transparency and accountability. Freedom of expression came under intense attack in 2021. Some ordinary citizens were arrested for expressing themselves, particularly online. Criminal defamation cases have become the order of the day. Police reverted to using the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act and Protected Flags, Emblems and Names Act to arrest citizens. Successes In January 2021, the government gazetted the Access to Information (ATI) Act regulations. This meant the process of requesting for information and disseminating information would be easily facilitated. It also meant public institutions and relevant private institutions were obliged to be forthcoming with information. In some areas, it was noted that the government was trying to provide some of the information. The State House press briefings, which started in 2020 continued in 2021 notwithstanding COVID-19 related disruptions. The President also continued appearing in the National Assembly to respond to questions from Members of Parliament. MISA Malawi continued with its capacity building initiatives in 2021 and received support from different partners. The Chapter mostly conducted virtual trainings, including WhatsApp-based trainings as was the case in 2020. MISA Malawi continued to strengthen the capacity of the Media Council of Malawi (MCM) and media outlets to ensure the sustainability of media self-regulation. Since 2019, MISA Malawi has undertaken various initiatives aimed at resuscitating the operations of the Council and overall media self-regulation in Malawi. On digital rights, in 2021 internet providers and the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) started responding to a social media campaign dubbed #DataMustFall which aims at compelling internet service providers to reduce the cost of data. Regional projects Apart from participating in the MISA strategy meeting and other regional meetings, in 2021, MISA Malawi implemented two major regional projects. 1) Conference on the Future of Journalism Education in Southern Africa In partnership with DW Akademie and Namibia Media Trust, MISA Malawi organised a three-day Conference on the Future of Journalism Education in Southern Africa in November. Themed: Telling the Truth - Restoring Trust, the conference was a continuation of the conversations on trends and innovation in journalism education in Southern Africa that the three organisations started in 2019. In choosing the theme, organisers considered how the COVID-19 pandemic had cast the spotlight on the issue of trust in the media. 2) Regional Conference on Media Self-Regulation Through its 2021 Media Self-Regulation campaign, MISA Malawi engaged national and regional level partners and stakeholders to support adoption and implementation of self-regulation systems and practices recommended by the model on media self-regulation, which are in line with the principles of the Windhoek Declaration. MISA Malawi lobbied partners in the region to also push for the adoption and implementation of media selfregulation practices that are in line with principles of media independence, as envisioned by the Windhoek Declaration. During the regional engagement, representatives of MISA Zimbabwe, MISA Zambia and MISA Tanzania, explained how their systems are work in progress and the need to push for media self-regulation while considering the differences in legal frameworks in the region. Locally, MISA Malawi engaged media activists, human rights activists and civil society organisations to support media self-regulation in Malawi. Mozambique Operating env ironment Mozambique continues to face declines in the press freedom environment. Violence, kidnappings, arrests/disappearance of journalists, surveillance, seizures of journalist’s work materials, physical and psychological torture, restrictions on access to places and sources of information, assaults and burnings of media houses, and legal prosecutions to intimidate independent journalists, characterise the working environment. Reports from The Economists Intelligence Unit, Civicus, and Reporters Without Borders, point to Mozambique increasingly becoming authoritarian. This is despite the democratic institutions that the country has put in place. Challenges Among the main challenges that MISA Mozambique faces, is the government’s reluctance to enact MISA Regional 2021 Annual 2021 Report 13