MISA's Media Monitoring exercise in 2010 showed a skewed shift to legislative matters, where repressive laws seemed to take over the emblem of media freedom in the region.
(MISA/IFEX) – 29 April 2011 – MISA’s Media Monitoring exercise in 2010 showed a skewed shift to legislative matters, where repressive laws seemed to take over the emblem of media freedom in the region. However, much worse and sparking concern was the killing of two journalists in Angola, a violation which one would view as strange to the region, especially 20 years after the enactment of the Windhoek Declaration.
MISA also witnessed a number of repressive media legislations being proposed or even enacted in Malawi, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, a sign of deteriorating democratic values in these countries. Arrest, detention and prosecution of journalists’ cases were also witnessed in countries such as Zambia and Zimbabwe.
However, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, we would like to take you on a brief tour in examining the Media Freedom Profile for each of the 11 Southern African countries as monitored in 2010.
