Statements and communiques
Tanzania’s cybercrime law anathema to democracy and free speech
Tanzanian journalist Mary Victor, with the Raia Mwema newspaper was charged for sedition after she allegedly shared a video clip of patients allegedly fleeing a COVID-19 centre in that country. She...
COVID-19, fake news laws being used to stifle free speech
With the ubiquity of social media, governments in Southern Africa are coming up with several regulations under the pretext of regulating the scourge of misinformation, yet they are using these laws...
Cyber Bill subject to Parly procedures despite COVID-19 lockdown
The Parliament of Zimbabwe says it will adhere to requisite parliamentary processes following the gazetting of the Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill notwithstanding the COVID-19 lockdown...
Content creators file court application against ZMC accreditation
The Zimbabwe Online Content Creators Trust (ZOCC) has filed an urgent chamber application with the High Court seeking an order for suspension of the Zimbabwe Media Commission’s (ZMC) accreditation...
Regional governments intensify crackdowns on media during COVID-19
As the continent commemorates Africa Day on 25 May 2020, it is worrying that the majority of Southern African countries, typical of fragile states, are taking advantage of the outbreak of the deadly...
Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill entrenches surveillance
Introduction The advent of the Internet and related technological developments have been celebrated for providing platforms for widespread and ‘unrestricted’ exercise of freedom of expression and...
Govt should prioritise internet affordability as a human right
MISA Zimbabwe is calling for a reduction of data prices and engaging various stakeholders to promote the constitutional right to access to information which plays a crucial role in promoting public...
Implementing democratic media reforms is not rocket science!
This year’s World Press Freedom Day commemorations on 3 May 2020 come on the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s 40 years of independence and ahead of the 30th anniversary of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration in...
Curbing misinformation in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic
The amount of misinformation about the Coronavirus virus and alleged vaccines against it has given rise to unproductive and unwarranted debates on the state of the pandemic, its spread and impact....