house in order’. In order to head off further calls for controls on the media, it is imperative for the media to introduce an ethics code and start regulating itself. MISA firmly believes that there is a link between the social environment in which journalists work and media freedom. This link is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) which, at its 2005 General Conference, included the right to decent working conditions as part of the enabling environment for media freedom and allocated resources to support work in this area. The Bellagio Statement also recognised the link between living standards-working conditions and media freedom. Attempts in Botswana, Malawi and Swaziland to resuscitate journalist unions should therefore be supported. The SADC Journalists Under Fire campaign The SADC Journalists Under Fire campaign is designed to offer immediate and practical support to journalists who fall victim to media freedom violations. It is a rapid-response mechanism, which comprises six elements: information sharing (alerts), direct practical support strategies, research, training, and advocacy and lobby elements. The following activities were undertaken in 2006 as part of the SADC Journalists Under Fire campaign: Botswana: MISA Botswana provided legal advice to Mokgosi newspaper after the newspaper’s editor and reporter were slapped with a P1 million lawsuit. The case was withdrawn. Namibia: MISA Namibia has joined forces with the country’s non-governmental organisation (NGO) umbrella body, the Namibia Non-Governmental Forum (NANGOF) to develop a media and civil society coalition. In so doing MISA Namibia aims to influence and devise co-ordinated and joint activities to link issues of media freedom and freedom of expression to the larger socio-economic development agenda. Swaziland: MISA Swaziland regularly visited the print media to explain MISA’s goals and objections and to train journalists on the importance, function and production process of alerts. As a result, the chapter has seen an increase in proactive reportage of media violations. Zimbabwe: In 2006 the Zimbabwe government intensified its ban on foreign journalists attempting to work or report from Zimbabwe. This resulted in journalists clandestinely entering Zimbabwe and some of them being arrested. As a result MISA has had to intervene expeditiously to develop a programme response to the crisis. In Zimbabwe alone, 15 journalists were assisted with legal support in 2006. In the case of journalists Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and Tendai Musiyazviriyo, MISA Zimbabwe put pressure on the government to seek the release of the journalists who were arrested while covering an opposition rally. The chapter worked closely with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, which ensured the release of the two journalists from police custody. In an attempt to understand the challenges faced by the local media, the chapter held three consultative meetings with journalists in Bulawayo, Bindura and Gwanda. This outreach work is aimed at developing an understanding of the needs of the local media and further provides much-needed moral and practical support to the media. During 22 Annual Report 2007