ANALYSIS OF COVID-19 REGULATIONS VIS-À-VIS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE SADC REGION it is the obligation of the state to ensure that this right is respected to achieve the objectives under the various methods of the containment of the virus. It is worth noting that the advancement of the right of freedom of expression during a pandemic is significant to the extent that it contributes to the public health interests that that are embodied in the containment measures. It is therefore important that the public acts responsibly in their exercise of the right so as not to cause unwarranted public panic or derail the containment measures. freedom of expression. Credible information produced by a free and independent journalism could make the difference between life and death. Such life-saving information help people to distinguish between facts and lies as the scourge of misinformation rises during the times of Covid-19. In recognition of this important role, the United Nations, especially, the United Nations, Education, Social and Cultural organisation, UNESCO has encouraged world leaders to support a free and vibrant press to complement the work of countering the rise of misinformation which continues to impede the fight against Covid-19.28 UNESCO in particular calls on stakeholders; government and media owners to guarantee the safety of journalists.29 Covid-19 and freedom of expression in the sadc region This section of the study is premised on the impression that freedom of expression particularly freedom of the media is essential in containing the spread of virus. The section explores the attitude of the government towards the media including the recognition of the media as providing an essential service; the violations against the media; and the false news regulations in the SADC region. A review of the situation in the SADC member states reveals that violations have been perpetrated against members of the public and the media including the arrests of journalists and closure of media outlets for mainly criticising government responses to COVID- 19.27 This call has been heeded to by some governments in the SADC region, who have classified the media as a provider of essential service, as government announced measures that were meant to curb the spread of the virus through people to people transmission. These measures include restricting public freedom of movement through quarantined and lockdowns measures. Essentially, designating media as an essential service and allowing journalists to move around freely to cover and report on the Covid-19 outbreak is an acknowledgment of the crucial role of information in times of a crisis, especially a public health catastrophe that was an enigma to many. The media plays an important role in educating the public about measures to combat and curb the spread of Covid-19. Media as ‘essential service’ in the wake of covid-19 The Covid-19 health crisis has in a significant way brought to the limelight the crucial role of access to verified and reliable information and In South Africa, government acknowledged the significant role of the media during times of crisis, 27D Muchena ‘Southern Africa: COVID-19 a pretext for surge in harassment of journalists and weakening of media houses by states’ 3 May 2020 https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/southern-africa-covid19-a-pretext-for-surge-in-harassmentof-journalists-and-weakening-of-media-houses-by-states/ (accessed 10 June 2020). 28 R Pollack et al ‘Journalism, press freedom and COVID-19’ (2020) https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/unesco_covid_brief_en.pdf (accessed 27 March 2020). 29 ‘UNESCO stresses importance of safety of journalists amid COVID-19 pandemic’ (2020) https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco- stresses-importance-safety-journalists-amid-covid-19-pandemic (accessed 27 July 2020). https://zimbabwe.misa.org 11