Access to information
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 recognised in many of the constitutions of southern African countries.
MISA Zambia, through its Freedom of Expression and Access to Information Programme, aims to address the challenges affecting media freedom and freedom of expression. The programme promotes research and advocacy on media freedom, freedom of expression and Access to Information (ATI). We employ different strategies including public education on the importance of ATI legislation.
Further, MISA Zambia seeks to actively engage key stakeholders and decision makers, who may have influence in getting the Access to Information Bill, enacted.
MISA Zambia advocates for legislative changes to media laws and particularly the repeal of laws that criminalise the work of the media. The organisation has adopted new innovative and effective advocacy strategies and developed clear advocacy messages. As part of its advocacy efforts, MISA Zambia has also increased its contacts and engagement with the National Assembly, the Executive and civil society organisations while also supporting grassroots organisations in their push for information access.
Universal Access to Information Day (Right to Know Day)
MISA Zambia celebrates Universal Access to Information Day every year on 28th September. The day is used to raise awareness about the importance of the right of access to information in Zambia.
Access to information news from our chapters
Malawi should rethink its broadcasting licence regime
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has over the past three months been revoking broadcasting licences and closing radio and television stations for delays in the remittance of broadcasting licence fees. In 2022, MACRA revoked licences for six...
Freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom critical for credible elections in Southern Africa
By Tabani Moyo Four Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries are scheduled for elections in 2023. The four are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. Eswatini stands out among the four nations, as the monarchy has gone...
Call for Applications: IJP German-Southern African Bursary 2023
Dear Colleagues, We would like to draw your attention to the call for applications for this year’s Horst Köhler Fellowship Programme / Southern African Bursary and we kindly ask you to spread the word among fellow journalists. Applications are still possible...
Governments should come up with punitive measures for crimes against journalists
Journalists and media representative organisations drawn from across the African continent, including regional and international media support organisations, converged in Zimbabwe’s resort town of Victoria Falls on 11 and 12 November 2022 for the belated...
AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER An analysis of trends in AMBs for 28 countries over 11 years
FOREWORD The African Media Barometer (AMB) is our flagship project at fesmedia Africa, the regional media project of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Namibia. It was developed in 2004 in partnership with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). Its indicators are...