So near yet so far: The quest for press freedom in Southern Africa

By DUMISANI MOYO May 03 2011 15:00

This year's Word Press Freedom Day provides a unique opportunity to take stock of the progress, or lack of it, made towards attaining press freedom across the world on one hand, while on the other allowing us to look into the future of press freedom in light of past developments and current experiences.

Press Freedom: Then and Now

published by  Georgetown University

Gwen Lister, founder of the newspaper The Namibian, threw down the gauntlet in the opening session of Monday’s WPFD events when she said, “Press freedom is non-negotiable.”

World Press Freedom Day Statement: Media in Africa 20 Years On: Our Past, Present and Future – May 4-6, 2011

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN/IFRA) are honored to host the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration, which culminated in 03 May 1991, being declared World Press Freedom Day by the United Nations General Assembly.

MEDIA IN AFRICA 20 YEARS ON:Our Past, Present and Future

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an independent and Pluralistics African Press

Download MEDIA MEDIA IN AFRICA 20 YEARS ON

A Tour into the Media Freedom Environment in Southern Africa: Brief Country Profile

MISA’s Media Monitoring exercise in 2010 showed a skewed shift to legislative nature, where repressive laws seemed to take over the emblem of media freedom in the region. However, much worse to spark concern was the killing of two journalist in Angola, a violation, which one would view as strange to the region, especially 20 years after the enactment of the Windhoek Declaration.

MISA celebrations in the rest of Southern Africa

Annually, on World Press Freedom Day, May 3, MISA launches its state of media freedom report, So This Is Democracy? throughout southern Africa.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN/IFRA) are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration, which culminated in 03 May 1991, being declared World Press Freedom Day by the United Nations General Assembly.