role as the regional shield in defending the right to freedom of expression in Southern Africa. While there are legacy issues to deal with, MISA is more than determined to continue on the path of repositioning itself as the foremost organisation with the widest reach and influence in the region. In 2021, MISA developed the 2021-2026 Strategy Document, which is the result of a meeting held in October 2021 that was attended by three representatives from each of the regional Chapters. MISA convened the Regional Internet Governance Forum during which the Regional Governing Council (RGC), also held its own side meeting in formalising the relocation of the Regional Office from Zambia to Zimbabwe. This epic meeting received wide media coverage, thereby setting the organisation on a new trajectory. In a first for the organisation, MISA observed the Zambian General elections in August 2021. The delegation comprised RGC members from Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, and the Regional Office. MISA continued to build on its formidable reputation as a regional leader in the generation of well-researched documents and publications on the state of media freedom and access to information in the region. MISA released the inaugural State of Press Freedom in Southern Africa Report and continued to produce the regional Transparency Assessment Index. The organisation also produced reports on the state of digital rights in the region. Suffice to say, while the environment may be challenging, MISA is poised for further growth driven by its collective purposefulness and determination to improve freedom of the media, freedom of expression, access to information, the right to privacy and digital rights in Southern Africa. Guided by its compass, the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, it is hands on the decks, sleeves rolled and back to work, hand in glove with like-minded organisations in the creation of both collaborative and solidarity platforms in tackling these current and future daunting tasks. Tabani Moyo Regional Director MISA Secretariat MISA Regional 2021 Annual 2021 Report 5