Media coverage improves (5 December, 2011)

The Zambia Daily Mail released a report on the 20th September 2011 post election media coverage. The report indicated that there is an improvement in the manner in which media in the country is covering various topical issues. Read more

Call for applications for local radio station licenses. (30 November 2011)

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) on 27 November 2011 called for applications for  free to air local commercial radio broadcasting service licenses and content distribution broadcasting services in terms of Section 10 of the Broadcasting Services Act [Chapter 12:06]. Read more

BAZ issues new commercial radio licenses (25 November 2011)

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) on 24 November 2011 announced the state-controlled Zimpapers Talk Radio and AB Communications as Zimbabwe’s first ever licensed free-to-air independent national commercial radio stations since independence in 1980. Read more

Government pledges transparent FOI law (24 November 2011)

The Zambian government announced its commitment, not only to enact the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill but also to implement it. This was said during a conference on Freedom of Information which was organized by World Bank Zambia. Read more

Minister pleads for public media (24 November 2011)

Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism, Given Lubinda has asked individuals and organizations with legal suits against any public media institutions to emulate the Law Association of Zambia and withdraw their cases. Read more

Civic society lament rights violations in SADC (28 October 2011)

Several NGO's attending the 50th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights being held in Banjul, The Gambia, have bemoaned continued human rights violations in southern Africa. Read more

VOP FM makes bid for radio license (28 October 2011)

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe on 27 October 2011 convened its last scheduled public hearings for prospective free-to-air radio licensees with VOP FM appearing before the Authority. Read more

MISA-Malawi Chairperson addresses the UN Human Rights Committee (26 October 2011)

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chapter chairperson Anthony Kasunda is among the Malawi delegation of Civil Society leaders who on Monday, October 24, addressed the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Switzerland. Read more

AB Communications bids for radio license (25 October 2011)

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe on 25 October 2011 convened the third of its four scheduled public hearings for prospective free-to-air radio licensees with AB Communications appearing before the Authority. Read more

Zimbabwe commits to protection of human rights (25 October 2011)

The Zimbabwean government says it is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights in the country. Read more

Africa should take protection of human rights seriously (25 October 2011)

Gambian Attorney General and Minister of Justice Edward Gomes has implored African governments to  take the promotion and protection of human and people’s rights on the continent seriously. Read more

SADC NGO’s call for adherence to African Charter  (24 October 2011)

Representatives of NGO’s attending the Forum on the Participation of NGO’s (NGO Forum)  at the 50th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s rights lamented the continued existence of challenges against enjoyment of fundamental human rights in southern Africa. Read more

Civic bodies should push for ratification of African Court (21 October 2011)

Non-Governmental Organisations should intensify their efforts in lobbying respective governments to ratify the protocol establishing the African Human Rights Courts as only 26 of the 54-member African Union have ratified it. Read more

Zimpapers Talk Radio appears before BAZ panel (21 October 2011)

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) on 20 October 2011 convened the second of its four scheduled public hearings for prospective free-to-air radio licensees with Zimpapers Talk Radio (ZTR) appearing before the panel. Read more

Court reinstates Malawi Broadcasting Corporation staff (12 October, 2011)

Some members of staff have spent their third day at state-controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) following a court order issued by the High court on 28 September 2011, which directed that the employees had to go back to their previous workplaces. Read more

2011 Golden Padlock award gets accepted by the Ministry of Energy (12 October, 2011)

The golden padlock award for the most secretive government institution has for the first time since 2009 been accepted by the Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment. Read more

More retrenchments at Democratic Media Holdings (10 October 2011)

New Zambian government to prioritize FOI Bill (12 October 2011)

On 30th September, The Post newspaper reported that the new Zambian Information Minister Given Lubinda says he will prioritize media liberalization and enactment of the Freedom of Information Bill. Read more

CRAN unveils new logo (23 September 2011)

The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) unveiled a new logo early this week that it says reflects dynamism of the sector and the wide spectrum of the industry it serves. Read more

MISA Malawi has New NGC members (12th September, 2011)

The Malawi Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has new National Governing Council (NGC) members based on latest constitutional provisions that reduced the number of elected NGC members from 7 to 3. Read more

Luis Fernando wins 'Maboque' journalism award (11 September 2011)

Journalist Luís Fernando with O País weekly won US$ 100,000 at the Maboque Journalism Award for 2011, the hand-over ceremony took place on Friday, 9 September 2011 in Luanda. Read more

NBC signs an agreement with CNBC (9 September 2011)

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has signed a partnership agreement with the Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC) Africa better business news coverage for Namibia, says a report by the Namibian on the 8th September 2011. Read more

Call for entries for media awards (7 September 2011)

The Namibian chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Namibia) on Friday, 2 September 2011 called for entries to its 2011 media awards. Read more

MISA elects new advocacy committee members(30 August 2011)

MISA-Zimbabwe’s National Governing Council (NGC) has completed the constitution of its 10 decentralised Advocacy Committees in Kwekwe, Gweru, Bulawayo, Gwanda, Victoria Falls, Masvingo, Mutare, Marondera, Chinhoyi and Harare. Read more

Journalists, get award at SADC Summit (24 August 2011)

The 31th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) which took place in Luanda gave awards to best journalists within the SADC member countries in 2011. Read more

Radio owner harassed and accused for corruption (3 August 2011)

Qhawe Mamba the owner of Channel S, which recently came back on air, was harassed and insulted in a live broadcast. This happened during the Mass protest by Labour movement in Manzini. Read more

SABC celebrates 75th Anniversary (3 August 2011)

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) celebrated its 75 years of existence on the 1st August 2011, 58 years of state broadcaster and 17 years of public broadcaster, says board member Lumko Mtimbe on the SABC Facebook page. Read more

MCC Places Operational Hold on Malawi Compact (28 July, 2011)

The international community continues to withhold aid to Malawi following what they have described as the country’s poor economic policies, deteriorating human rights standards and bad governance. Read more

CRAN in process of becoming operational (18 July 2011)

Parts of the Communications Act that deals with interception of telecommunications, universal service and the establishment of the domain name .na, are not yet finalised, said Minister of Information and Communication Technology Joël Kaapanda. Read more

MISA Malawi, consumer body, media react to VAT (15 July 2011)

Malawi’s two major print media houses, Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) and Nation Publications Limited (NPL) have announced new cover prices. This follows government’s introduction of a 16.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) to newspapers. Read more

Karas Community Radio back on air (18 July 2011)

After two weeks’ silence due to a damaged transmitter, Keetmanshoop-based Karas Community Radio (KRC) on Friday 15 July 2011 returned to the airwaves. Read more

Newspaper celebrates 20th anniversary (12 July 2011)

Namibia’s only public newspaper, the New Era held a gala dinner to make the celebration of its 20th anniversary on 11 July 2011. Read more

Journalist recognized for merit reporting (12 July 2011)

 A journalist with The Citizen, Sharifa Kalokola, has won recognition for health reporting during the Siemens Africa Profile Awards held recently in Doha, Qatar. Read more

MISA - Zimbabwe member dies (04 July 2011)

MISA-Zimbabwe mourns the death of its member and reporter with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), Joseph Mandizvidza. Read more

International Press Institute disappointed with the delay in allowing media self regulation (22 June 2011)

The International Press Institute (IPI) recently said it was disappointed with the Zambian government’s delay in honouring its promise to parliament that it would allow the media in the country to regulate itself. Read more

New newspaper launched (21 June 2011)

The first “black-owned and black-initiated” bi-weekly newspaper, The Villager, was launched on Thursday 16 June 2011 by President Hifikepunye Pohamba. Read more

Newspaper commended for in-depth reporting (21 June 2011)

On the 4th June, 2011, The Swedish Ambassador to Zambia, Marie Anderson De Frutos, commended Zambia’s only privately owned daily newspaper, The Post, for its in-depth reporting on various issues in the country. Read more

Government lifts ban on Weekend Times (16 June 2011)

The government of Malawi has finally lifted a ban imposed on the Weekend Times, a sensational weekly tabloid which had sought relief from the High Court to continue publishing after the ban in October 2010. Read more

2011 Media Fund Fellowship winners announced (14 June 2011)

Two journalists of the Mwananchi Communications Limited have been selected for the 2011 Tanzania Media Fund Fellowship (TMF). Read more

New Regulatory Authority in transformation process (9 June 2011)

The existing regulations, licenses and fees for broadcasting and telecommunications will remain the same until the transformation process of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has been completed. Read more

Deficiencies in Botswana’s Draft Information of Information Bill Uncovered (8 June 2011)

A human rights pioneer that defends and promotes freedom of expression and freedom of information all over the world, ARTICLE 19 conducted an analysis of the Draft Freedom of Information Bill of Botswana ahead of the presentation of the draft law to parliament at its July 2011 sitting. Read more

Victory as Media Complaints Commission finally registered (8 June 2011)

The long-awaited Media Complaints Commission (MCC), a media self-regulatory framework for Swaziland, has finally been registered by the government after a long-drawn registration process spanning the last four years. Read more

Asset declaration law pending for senior public officials – MISA calls for more stakeholder consultation before the law goes further (02 June 2011)

A draft law forcing officials who hold public office to declare their interests, as well as those of their relatives, will be presented to the Minister of Justice Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana in 18 months’ time. Read more

World Press Freedom – Chief Justice Urges Media Fraternity to Lobby for Inclusion of Media Freedom in the Constitution (9 May 2011)

The former Chief Justice, Augustino Ramadhani has urged media fraternity to lobby for inclusion of media freedom in the new Constitution. Read more

MISA calls on Swazi government to fast-track community radio licenses (4 May 2011)

On 3 May 2011, the chairperson of MISA Swaziland, Bonisile Dlamini, called on the Government of Swaziland to speed up the process of liberating the airwaves and licensing community radio broadcasters so as to ensure the empowerment of citizens through access to information. Read more

Call for expansion of ACHPR intervention mechanisms (3 May 2011)

The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights’ (ACHPR) intervention mechanisms should be expanded for it to effectively deal and respond to human rights issues on the continent.Read more

US diplomat calls for collective fight for press freedom (3 May 2011)

Journalists are not the only ones who should stand up for press freedom but all citizens who value an informed society, Craig Cloud, Charge d`Affairs in the American Embassy in Mbabane has said. Read more

NGO’s lament media freedom violations in Africa (29 April 2011 )

The Forum on the Participation of NGO’s in the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (AHPR) on 27 April 2011 adopted recommendations to deal with violations of media freedom and freedom of expression in Africa. Read more

MISA Malawi kick-starts World Press Freedom Day celebrations (27 April, 2011)

Journalists in Malawi on Saturday, 23 April 2011, went to the street to march in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD). The day falls on May 3 every year, but MISA Malawi has organized Read more

SADC NGOs call for end of human right violations in Zimbabwe and Swaziland (26 April 2011)

A representative of SADC non-governmental organizations and human rights defenders meeting in The Gambia has urged the Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) Read more

Government authorities remain mum over ‘expulsion’ of British High Commissioner to Malawi
(20 April 2011)

Government authorities in Malawi are tight lipped over reports of expulsion of British High Commissioner to Malawi, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet. According to published reports, Dyet has been given 72 hours from Monday, Read more

President applauds the role of freedom of expression and free media to development (20 April 2011 )

Zambia’s President Rupiah Banda said freedom of expression and a free media were crucial to the development of positive governance and democratic practices in the country. Read more

Community Radio Harare files a High Court application as it battles for a broadcasting licence (15 April 2011)

Community Radio Harare (CORAH) on April 4, 2011 filed an application with the High Court seeking a relief to have its broadcasting licence application considered by the Broadcasting Authority of Read more

MISA-Zimbabwe publishes veteran journalist’s memoirs (15 April 2011)

On March 31, 2011, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe officially launched the memoirs of veteran Zimbabwean journalist Bill Saidi, as captured in his publication, A Sort of Life in Journalism, at a launch ceremony in Harare attended by luminaries of Zimbabwean journalism. Read more

World Bank links unrest to lack of accountability (11 April 2011)

April 11, 2011 - WORLD Bank president Robert Zoellick says the crisis engulfing Middle East and North Africa shows that stability of any country can only be guaranteed if the government is more accountable to the people. Read more

Statement by Female Media Practitioners in Zimbabwe (22 March 2011)

We female media practitioners drawn from the public and independent media, senior and retired female media practitioners, media students and gender media activists gathered in Harare on Friday, 18 March 2011; Read more

Government promises establishment of Independent Broadcasting Authority (9 March 2011 )

The long awaited establishment of the Independent Broadcasting Authority, (IBA), will be operational by the end of the second quarter of 2011, government has said. Read more

Malawi punished for asserting to repressive media law - donors withdraw their support (15 February 2011 )

The Malawi government risks losing funding from the United States and German governments if President Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration continues to disregard governance and human rights issues. Read more

Task force on digital migration seeks funding strategy (9 February 2011 )

On 4 February 2011, taskforce on Digital Migration Chairperson Luwani Soko called on government to devise an alternative funding strategy for the taskforce to commence operations. Read more

BAZ call for webcasting and diffusion service applicants mired in confusion (01 February 2011)

MISA-Zimbabwe is concerned about the reports that do not only continue to add confusion on the country’s broadcasting regulatory body but also appear to be aimed at legitimising the body which has been deemed to have been illegally constituted by the information ministry in 2009. Read more

Ministry of Information produces draft policy on Access to Information (ATI) Bill
(13 January 2011 )

Efforts by the Media Institute of Southern Africa Malawi Chapter (MISA-Malawi) to have the Access To Information (ATI) Bill enacted are slowly but surely bearing fruits. This follows release of a draft Policy on Access To Information by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education. Read more

Gazetted AIPPA Regulations (12 January 2011)

MISA-Zimbabwe notes the Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu’s response to the increase in the media registration and accreditation fees in The Herald of 7 January 2011. Read more

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