MISA Zimbabwe urges the government, police, state security agents, political parties, and other responsible authorities to ensure the safety and security of journalists and media workers during the 2023 elections and post-election period. Also, key in ensuring a conducive operating environment is the regulation of the media during elections by putting in place mechanisms for swift responses and speedy adjudication of cases involving the unlawful hindrance of the work of journalists and media workers on duty. Political parties can, in that regard, push for the adoption and localisation of the United Nations Plan of Action (UNPA) on the Safety of Journalists into the country’s legislative frameworks as part of concrete efforts to end impunity of crimes against journalists. DISINFORMATION DISORDERS IN ELECTION PERIODS Zimbabwe is among African countries facing the challenge of disinformation. Due to technological developments and the digital landscape, information is shared easily and quickly thereby increasing access to information. The media and journalists should thus guard against being the main drivers of misinformation and disinformation during elections through strict verification and fact-checking of information they receive and process in the public interest. People are equally using the online space to freely express themselves and access information. However, an increase in disinformation has been noted. Reports on the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe recorded an increase in online and propaganda wars which were characterised by the spread of false information, cyberbullying, and harassment. Disinformation is dangerous during political campaigns where propaganda is generated and spread for consumption by voters. It affects democracy as voters are provided with damaging information which can influence the election of candidates or political parties. Freedom of expression is greatly enabled by an independent and impartial media, devoid of disinformation, which serves as a campaign platform, and a watchdog on the electoral processes, thereby promoting accountability and transparency. International law strikes a balance between freedom of expression and disinformation. Generally, it is accepted that criminalising disinformation is inconsistent with the right to freedom of information. The United Nations Human Rights Committee says punishing journalists for the publication of false news, merely on the grounds that the news is false, violates Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). ZIMBABWE 2023 ELECTIONS AND BEYOND: MEDIA REGULATION, JOURNALISM SAFETY AND SECURITY 5