Articles by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
Journalists attacked in Malawi, South Africa and Zambia
Journalists across Southern Africa recently came under attack in separate incidents. In one case, photojournalist Motshwari Mofokeng was wounded in the chest when a security guard shot a rubber bullet directly at him, as Mofokeng was covering an eviction.
Zimbabwean journalists could face up to 20 years in jail for political story
Journalists for the Zimbabwe Independent were arrested and charged with “false statements prejudicial to the state” after they wrote about a meeting between politicians.
Concerns over media freedom in Southern Africa
On World Press Freedom Day, the Media Institute of Southern Africa expresses concern about the rate at which media freedom and freedom of expression violations are occurring within the southern African region.
Swazi magazine handed heavy fine for criticism of chief justice
One of Swaziland’s few independent source of news, The Nation magazine, has been found guilty of “contempt by scandalizing the court” following its publication of two articles in 2009 and 2010 that criticised Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi.
Swazi editors reinstated after eight month suspension
Alec Lushaba and Thulani Thwala have been reinstated as editors of the Swazi Observer and the Weekend Observer They had been accused of continuously publishing negative stories about King Mswati III.
South African journalists face threats, attacks
Zolile Menzelwa was attacked on 3 March and told to stop writing “about the mayor.” The incident follows a series of attacks on journalists during their coverage of a farm workers’ strike in January.
Police in Zimbabwe ban “specifically designed radios”, claiming used for hate speech
Police in Zimbabwe have banned the possession of “specially designed radios” on suspicion that they are being used to communicate hate speech ahead of the referendum and elections in March.
Botswanan weekly’s independence threatened by printer’s refusal to publish
The Printing and Publishing Company Botswana refused to print the 20–26 January 2013 edition of The Patriot on Sunday, creating concern about how the editorial independence of the paper has been threatened.