The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is extremely saddened to report that MISA's Regional Information Co-ordinator, Chola Bright Mwape, died on 16 August after an automobile accident in Namibia. The 33-year-old Mwape leaves behind his wife Judy, and their 20-month old son, Isaiah. Mwape is regionally and internationally known as one of the foremost media freedom activists in southern Africa, says MISA. He was in charge of MISA's Media Information Unit, which monitors press freedom in the region and produces MISA's bi-monthly publication on media advocacy entitled "Network News". Mwape edited the 1997 and 1998 editions of MISA's annual State of the Media report entitled "So this is Democracy?", edited the first two editions of the "Southern African Media Directory", and managed "MISANet", MISA's regional electronic news wire service.

Mwape, who co-chaired the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) Annual Meeting in Capetown in April, was instrumental in organizing the IFEX meeting and those who attended appreciated his warmth and generosity. He was a pleasure to work with and will be remembered fondly as a dedicated journalist and media freedom campaigner, as well as a good-hearted man with a kind nature. Mwape was also on the IFEX Council and was an active contributor to the IFEX network. He is well known to IFEX members and subscribers not only as a media freedom campaigner, but as the subject of IFEX action alerts from his work at the Zambian newspaper "The Post". He was jailed in 1996 for contempt of Parliament after publishing articles which criticized statements made in Parliament by Zambia's Vice-President.

MISA calls Mwape's death "a profound loss," and says, "He will be mourned by his colleagues at MISA's Regional Secretariat in Windhoek and its members throughout the SADC region. Mwape was characterized by his high professional standards, his commitment to the cause of media freedom and his extraordinary work ethic." MISA has received outpourings of grief and support from around the world over his tragic death. He is to be buried in Zambia.