that portray the region as tolerant of freedom of expression for all, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) however still remains lacking in implementing and promulgating laws that protect that right. The media in the region has faced serious challenges ranging from new laws enacted or bills introduced that erode freedom of expression, sustainability and libel and defamation laws that governments in the region use to ground media organizations through litigation that governments use to entrench their control. It is of concern that threats and even actual physical violence visited upon media practitioners, verbal attacks, including racist slurs made by powerful individuals in society that have been targeted at media practitioners, have all contributed to an atmosphere of intimidation. This can only be viewed as limiting freedom of expression and the media. This may vary from country to country, but media practitioners and owners have had to navigate their way around this environment in order to play an important role of holding governments, powerful institutions and individuals accountable. During the year under review there have been reported cases where governments were withholding advertising to media houses that carried dissenting voices. These tactics are tacitly aimed at subduing the media to move away from their mandate of being watchdogs of society. In Zimbabwe however there have been positive developments in the media after the government controlled Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) licensed four newspapers namely NewsDay, the Daily Gazette, the Daily News and the Daily Mail. Out of the four licensed newspapers, only one –NewsDay-- has managed to hit the streets while the other three have not started publishing. However despite the optimism brought about by the signing of Global Political Agreement (GPA) the government has however maintained a stranglehold on the print media as there have been no licences 12 issued to new broadcasting houses. A raft of new laws and bills is being enacted and the net effect of all these laws will erode the already limited guarantees of freedom of expression. Botswana has already enacted the Media Practitioners Act - one of the many signs of the country losing its grip on the gains of the 1990s in terms of freedom of expression. The law turns the practice of journalism into a privilege that can only be exercised through the benevolence of a statutory Media Council handpicked by government to accredit journalists. Similar laws, the Media Commission Bill is being mulled in Swaziland, while in Zambia and South Africa, politicians have suggested the establishment of media controlling bodies. South Africa, touted as having one of the best constitutions in the world, also seems to be sliding backwards with the formulation and promulgation of laws that negate constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression. 13 The Film and Publications Amendment Act passed in 2009 and the introduction of the Public Service Broadcasting Bill pose a sobering thought to advocates of freedom of expression. However despite all the problems besetting the media sector in the region, it is critical for the media and for media practitioners to uphold the highest standards of ethical reporting, as well as to ensure truthfulness, balance, accuracy and fairness. This will ensure the integrity of the media as part of an important institution in the democratisation process. Once these standards are lowered, the media exposes itself to attacks which justify its gagging. Ends