The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in collaboration with Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services IHRDA and in partnership with Southern Africa Media Summit (SAMS) Secretariat Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Observer Status) cordially invite you to a webinar on Freedom of expression and democratic regression in the SADC region: emerging trends, legal responses, and regional priorities ahead of the Southern Africa Media Summit 2026
Webinar Details
Date : 22 July 2026
Duration 2 Hours (including Q&A)
Platform Zoom
Language: English
Register on Zoom Download Programme
Freedom of expression, media freedom and civic participation remain foundational pillars of democratic governance. Across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, however, these freedoms are increasingly coming under pressure through restrictive legislation, shrinking civic space, attacks on journalists, growing digital surveillance, disinformation and the misuse of cyber laws to silence dissenting voices.
These developments reflect broader global trends. Recent democratic governance assessments indicate a continued decline in democratic standards worldwide, with freedom of expression emerging as one of the democratic principles facing the most significant challenges. Across many jurisdictions, governments are increasingly relying on national security, cybercrime, public order and misinformation frameworks to justify restrictions on media freedom and political expression.
Within the SADC region, recent events have highlighted growing concerns regarding democratic regression and the protection of fundamental freedoms. The arrest and prosecution of journalists, activists, opposition leaders and online commentators under cybercrime legislation; restrictions on independent media coverage; internet disruptions during electoral processes; constitutional reforms affecting democratic participation; and the amplification of harmful narratives through digital platforms collectively raise important questions about the future of democratic governance and freedom of expression in Southern Africa.
At the same time, courts, civil society organisations, media practitioners and regional institutions continue to play a critical role in resisting democratic erosion and advancing accountability. Strategic litigation, evidence-based advocacy, policy reform initiatives and regional solidarity have emerged as important tools for protecting constitutional rights and strengthening democratic institutions.
Against this backdrop, the webinar will serve as a pre-Summit regional dialogue ahead of the Second Southern Africa Media Summit (SAMS), scheduled for 15–16 September 2026. The discussion will bring together journalists, lawyers, academics, policymakers, civil society organisations, and regional institutions to examine emerging threats to freedom of expression, explore legal and policy responses, and identify priority issues for consideration at the Summit.
The webinar will also introduce key findings from ongoing comparative legal research on media freedom and democratic governance in selected SADC countries, while generating recommendations that will inform discussions and outcomes at the Southern Africa Media Summit 2026.
Purpose of the webinar
The purpose of the webinar is to provide a regional platform for dialogue on the growing challenges facing freedom of expression, media freedom, access to information and democratic governance across Southern Africa.
As a precursor to the Second Southern Africa Media Summit, the webinar seeks to stimulate discussion on emerging legal, political, and technological developments affecting democratic participation in the region, while identifying opportunities for coordinated advocacy, policy engagement and strategic litigation.
The webinar will contribute to shaping the agenda and outcomes of SAMS 2026 by gathering stakeholder perspectives and highlighting priority issues requiring regional attention.
Objectives
The webinar seeks to:
- Analyse recent developments affecting freedom of expression, media freedom and democratic governance across the region.
- Facilitate dialogue among lawyers, journalists, policymakers, academics and civil society actors on emerging threats to democratic participation and civic space.
- Identify common patterns of democratic regression and their implications for media freedom and access to information.
- Explore opportunities for strategic litigation, legislative reform and regional advocacy.
- Generate recommendations and priority issues for discussion at the Second Southern Africa Media Summit.
- Strengthen regional collaboration among stakeholders working to promote media freedom, digital rights and democratic accountability.
Thematic focus: Freedom of expression and democratic regression in the SADC region
The webinar will examine recent developments across the SADC region that illustrate growing pressures on democratic governance and freedom of expression.
Zambia: Cyber legislation and the criminalisation of expression
Recent arrests of journalists, online commentators and opposition figures under Zambia’s cybercrime framework have raised concerns regarding the use of digital governance laws to regulate political speech and public discourse. The detention of podcast hosts, prosecutions of social media commentators and arrests of opposition leaders have prompted national and international debate regarding the balance between cybersecurity objectives and the protection of constitutional freedoms.
The Zambian experience provides an opportunity to examine the implications of broadly drafted cybercrime provisions and their potential impact on media freedom, political participation and democratic accountability.
South Africa: Xenophobic mobilisation, digital platforms and information integrity
South Africa’s recent experiences with xenophobic violence highlight the increasingly complex relationship between freedom of expression, online platforms, information integrity and social cohesion.
Research has demonstrated the significant role played by social media platforms in amplifying inflammatory narratives and facilitating the rapid spread of harmful content. These developments raise important questions regarding platform accountability, algorithmic amplification, responsible journalism and the role of media institutions in reporting on issues of migration and social conflict.
The discussion will explore how democratic societies can simultaneously protect freedom of expression while responding to harmful online content and disinformation.
Zimbabwe: Constitutional reform, media freedom and civic space
Recent constitutional reform proposals, alongside reports of restrictions on journalists, civil society actors and political opposition figures, have generated significant debate regarding democratic governance and constitutional accountability in Zimbabwe.
Developments relating to media access, public participation processes and the application of legislation affecting freedom of expression underscore broader concerns regarding shrinking civic space and democratic oversight.
The Zimbabwean context provides an important case study for examining the relationship between constitutional governance, media freedom, and democratic participation.
Tanzania: Elections, Political Participation, and Regional Accountability
The conduct of Tanzania’s recent electoral processes and subsequent assessments by regional observers have renewed discussions regarding electoral integrity, political participation, media freedom and democratic accountability within the SADC region.
Issues relating to restrictions on political opposition, digital communications, media coverage, and access to information demonstrate the close relationship between electoral democracy and freedom of expression.
The Tanzanian experience also raises important questions regarding the effectiveness of regional accountability mechanisms and the implementation of democratic governance standards.
Regional and Global Trends
The country experiences outlined above reveal several common themes:
- The expansion of cyber and digital governance laws;
- Increasing restrictions on journalists and independent media;
- Shrinking civic and political space;
- The growing influence of digital platforms on democratic discourse;
- Challenges relating to electoral integrity and public participation;
- The role of courts and regional institutions in protecting fundamental rights.
Together, these developments reflect broader global concerns regarding democratic backsliding and underscore the importance of coordinated regional responses.
Target Audience
The webinar is intended for:
- Journalists, editors, and media practitioners;
- Lawyers, legal researchers, and strategic litigators;
- Human rights defenders and civil society organisations;
- Policymakers and parliamentary staff;
- Representatives of regional and continental institutions;
- Academics and students working in law, media studies, governance, and political science;
- Development partners and donor organisations;
- Digital rights advocates and technology policy practitioners.
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