What we do
It is a fundamental human right to ask for and receive, information held by public organisations and bodies. It is critically important to make sure that information held by the public, and in some cases private institutions is available and accessible to citizens in a form and/ or language understandable to them.
MISA Zimbabwe lobbies for the enactment of democratic access to information laws as the right to seek, access and receive information is guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Article 4 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa. It is also provided for in sections 61 and 62 of the Zimbabwe constitution.
Therefore, this programme seeks to campaign for the public to enjoy their right to be informed through unrestricted access to information.
International Day for Universal Access to information
MISA Zimbabwe commemorates September 28th as International Day for Universal Access to Information. MISA Zimbabwe celebrates Universal Access to Information Day to raise awareness about the importance of the right of access to information in Zimbabwe and throughout the world and cast the spotlight on the challenges that hamper the enjoyment of this fundamental right.
Access to information and knowledge, free expression (online and offline), respect for cultural and linguistic diversity and quality education for all, are key pillars in building knowledge societies.
Access to information news from our chapters
Regional leaders need to reaffirm commitment to Windhoek Declaration
Thirty years after the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration, media stakeholders are once again meeting in Namibia, where they seek to update the seminal document that laid the foundation of World Press Freedom Day. This year’s celebrations are being held under the...
EFF, eNCA tensions escalate yet again
Tensions between South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and media house, eNCA, escalated at the weekend, with the leader of the opposition party, Julius Malema, saying they would no longer be granting interviews to the broadcaster. Malema tweeted that no...
Broadcasting authority speaks on newly licensed television stations
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) will not publicise how the regulatory authority scored applicants that were awarded free to air commercial television broadcasting licences, BAZ acting chief executive officer (CEO) Matthias Chakanyuka has said. Chakanyuka...
Why govt was sued over access to Covid-19 information
By Nompilo Simanje, Opinion, The Standard Newspaper At the beginning of the year, Zimbabwe faced an unprecedented surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, but there was always a lingering feeling that the government was not telling the full story. The number of cases...
Include journalists in the COVID-19 priority vaccination rollout
MISA Zimbabwe calls upon the government to prioritise and also include journalists among the first priority groups listed for the COVID-19 vaccination rollout programme. Our request is informed by the fact that the media was declared an essential service in terms of...