Media Institute of Southern Africa
Description
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) advocates for media freedom and freedom of expression across southern Africa. It grew out of a meeting of media practitioners in Botswana in December 1989 to discuss “The Right to Inform and be Informed”. It was launched in September 1992, following the 1991 Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media in Africa, which named a free, independent and pluralistic press essential for democracy and development. MISA was mandated to promote these principles across the Southern African Development Community region.
The MISA Education and Production Trust was registered on 12 October 1994 in Windhoek, Namibia. MISA is a membership-based organisation and social movement operating as a regional programme, with national chapters forming its membership in 11 southern African countries. Each chapter is registered as an autonomous NGO or Trust under the laws of its own country. Its members are individuals and institutions promoting freedom of expression and access to information.
Governance is decentralised, with a Regional Secretariat supported by national chapter management structures. Elected representatives form national and regional governance bodies. Its mission is to achieve media freedom and free expression for all as part of strengthening democracy in southern Africa. It works toward a media environment that is vibrant, professional, independent, pluralistic and sustainable, and that allows people to access information and express themselves freely.
Its work has grown to reach globally, particularly through a media violations monitoring programme. This work addresses media freedom monitoring, media law reform, media freedom and independence, digital rights, access to information, and media and elections. MISA joined the International Freedom of Expression eXchange network in 1994.
It has since co-hosted anniversary conferences of the Windhoek Declaration. It has lobbied bodies such as the Pan African Parliament and UNESCO. In 2015, UNESCO adopted 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Latest news
Strengthening the media ecosystem approach key to SADC development
“A stronger media ecosystem is key to building a sense of belonging to our collective …
24 Sep 2026
Closing date September 25th 2026 at 11.59 p.m. (GMT + 1).
18 Sep 2026
MISA Regional acknowledges the enactment of the Access to Information (ATI) law and the repeal of criminal defamation of the president as historical milestones. However, these are paper victories that have been neutralised by institutional silence.
17 Aug 2026
Internet affordability and access in Zimbabwe
According to POTRAZ’s 4th Quarter 2025 report, the internet penetration rate stood at 84.55%. Last year, the local operator NetOne reported that its 3G network covers approximately 50 percent of the geography and 80 percent of the population. Its 4G network reaches 32 percent of the geography...
16 Aug 2026
MISA Regional Office engages Botswana former President
Dr Masisi expressed his gratitude to MISA for reaching out and meeting with him.
13 Aug 2026
MISA welcomes draft African Guidelines on Data Access
The Guidelines embed data access within the established framework of the rights to information and to development.
20 Jul 2026
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