46 According to AfroBarometer findings issued on October 9, 2020 more than half (51%) of Basotho say that access to the internet and social media helps people to be more informed and active citizens, and should be unrestricted. The study also discovered that only about onethird (35%) of Basotho supported internet regulation by the government. (76) IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC Like other countries, Lesotho declared a national emergency and subsequently announced a three-week country lockdown spanning from March 29 to April 21, 2020. Several organisations, particularly government ministries, continued to call and congregate journalists for press briefings without PPEs. Some journalists have revealed that information gathering on the internet and by phone, to avoid Covid-19 exposure, has been an alternative, but their employers do not provide them with enough data and call bundles. MISA Lesotho and partners organised an intensive training course for journalists to improve Covid-19 media coverage and encourage coordinated dissemination of information about the pandemic. MEDIA AND GENDER Meagre remuneration is the main cause of harassment among women journalists in Lesotho. There are no minimum wage standards for journalists and remuneration is mostly determined via negotiations with the employer. Despite these challenges, in August 2019 MISA Lesotho partnered with the Lesotho National Insurance Group to launch the Women in Media Awards in recognition of female journalists who showed outstanding performance in media advocacy, social issues, sports, business and economy; and to celebrate African Women’s month as well. Although the initiative was intended to become an annual event, it was not celebrated in 2020. lack of understanding of journalists’ work by the communities within which the radio stations are based. Community journalists find themselves reporting on issues that at times anger some of the members of the communities within which they live. “At times they ask why we keep exposing their secrets while we never say a word about our own secrets,” said one of the journalists. MEDIA REFORMS During the period under review, Lesotho established the National Reforms Authority (NRA) to oversee the implementation of constitutional, parliamentary, security sector, judicial sector, economic and media reforms. With the country’s constitution under article 14 (1) only implicitly protecting press freedom, MISA Lesotho seeks for an amendment to introduce a constitutional provision explicitly guaranteeing media freedom, ensuring robust protection of the press and creating a conducive media policy and legislative environment. Without meaningful reform of the kingdom’s draconian laws, the state of media freedom in Lesotho will be subject to the ever-changing position of government on access to information and freedom of expression. Note: this is a condensed version of the full country report, which can be accessed online. See also: — SDG 16 assessment and trend: major challenges remain; stagnating — Freedom House report — RSF World Press Freedom Index ranking references (71) Freedom in the World, Lesotho Country Report 2020, Freedom House’s annual study of political rights and civil liberties worldwide (72) Ibid (73) Pascalinah Kabi, 23 September 2020, Government moves to gag media, https://lestimes.com/ govt-moves-to-gag-media/ accessed 01 October 2020 (74) Lesotho Access and Receipt of Information Bill 2000, https://osall.org.za/docs/2011/03/Lesotho-Access-and-Receipt-of-Information-Bill-2000.pdf, accessed 01 October 2020 COMMUNITY MEDIA (75) Lesotho Communications Authority, Proposed Promulgation of The Lesotho Communica- tions Authority (Internet Broadcasting) Rules, 2020, Public Consultation Notice, https://www. lca.org.ls/proposed-promulgation-of-the-lesotho-communications-authority-internet-broadcasting-rules-2020/?s=08 accessed 06 October 2020. (76) Libuseng Malephane, 09 October 2020, Few Basotho support government regulation of access to Lesotho has four community radio stations and analysis of the three that formed the sample for this research, common problems are unpaid work and resistance emanating from internet and social media, Press Release, Afrobarometer