To make headway in addressing this pressing issue, a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder, and multifaceted strategy is necessary. SAFEGUARDING OUR DEMOCRACIES’ FRONTLINE DEFENDERS Journalists often find themselves as targets in the run-up to elections due to their integral role in the coverage of political events. As such, it is the responsibility of governing authorities, including Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) to discharge their roles with impartiality and also play a more prominent role to safeguard journalists, particularly during electoral campaigns. Additionally, authorities must conduct thorough investigations into all attacks against journalists that may have occurred prior to the official commencement of campaigns. Almost two thirds of the countries in the region are scheduled to hold elections within the next two years (i.e., 2023 and 2024). It is anticipated, based on past experience, that such events will coincide with an upswing in the number of attacks directed towards journalists, both in the physical and virtual sense. Compounding this is the multifaceted nature of the issues surrounding online disinformation, which presents a formidable challenge to society, particularly during election periods. Regrettably, instead of collaborating with stakeholders to address the infodemic, the majority of governments have resorted to a knee-jerk reaction of over-regulating the media space and implementing punitive measures against journalists and media outlets. In 2022, two SADC member states, Angola (4) and Lesotho(5), held general elections. In Angola, the run-up to the elections was marred by reports of attacks and harassment of journalists covering campaign events. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported on attacks against Isabel Makitoko, António Sapalo and Wilson Capemba. A correspondent for the United States (US) Congress-funded Voice of America was also reportedly detained for three hours while on assignment to cover a protest against electoral irregularities ahead of the elections. The reports of biased coverage by the media, as confirmed by both the Angolan Journalists Union (SJA) and the Angolan Regulatory Body for Social Communication (ERCA),(6) are particularly alarming. These have prompted calls for even further regulations on the media in an environment where a plethora of laws exist that already undermine media freedom, as well as the rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Relatedly, Zimbabwe held by-elections in a number of wards and constituencies in 2022 and, in keeping with established patterns, instances of media violations showed a corresponding rise. In 2021, a non-election year, the Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Zimbabwe) documented 21 incidents of physical attacks perpetrated against journalists. Subsequently, this number escalated by around 80 percent to reach 37 in 2022. Given that a national election is slated for the latter half of 2023, there exists a legitimate concern that acts of aggression towards journalists will escalate. On the other hand, Lesotho’s high-stakes election, held against the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding the passing of electoral reforms and fears of further instability, was conducted smoothly in October 2022 with no incidents of attacks on journalists reported. This may be attributed to the investment made in preparing the media for election coverage through collaborations between the MISA Lesotho chapter, the Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Journalists and the media in Eswatini continue to work under the most harrowing conditions. In July 2022, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, upon the recommendation of AttorneyGeneral, Sifiso Khumalo, declared South African online newspaper Swaziland News and its editor, Zweli Martin Dlamini, terrorist entities, invoking Eswatini’s feared Suppression of Terrorism Act No.3 of 2008.(7) This legislation is incompatible with Eswatini’s international and regional human rights commitments, as well as the country’s constitution and has been used excessively to silence dissent, curb free expression and ban certain political organisations. 7