Media Bill is a threat to media freedom

In many countries the media is a powerful tool for exposing human rights abuses and holding governments to account. As a consequence, media is often severely restricted in countries where governments seek to commit abuses with impunity.

South Africa and Zimbabwe are the only two countries in the SADC region to have enacted access to information legislation. Most countries are party to international treaties that guarantee the right to receive and impart information. Domestic constitutions, with the exception of Swaziland, also provide the right to access information in a cluster of the right to freedom of expression.