Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has called on southern Africa governments to investigate, arrest and prosecute those who harass, threaten, or kill journalists.
The call came on this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 2026, commemorated annually on 2 November.
MISA said that she stands in solidarity with journalists, media workers, and defenders of free expression throughout Southern Africa.
“As part of our core mandate to monitor digital rights and media freedom, MISA highlights with profound concern that the digital space has become a hostile frontier for truth-tellers,” said MISA in a statement.
“Journalists across SADC are increasingly targeted by sophisticated digital attacks, including unlawful interception of communications that compromise confidential source protection and personal security, organised digital smear campaigns, trolling and gender-based online abuse designed to silence critical voices, particularly those of female journalists.”
The media rights body said that digital censorship, characterised by cyberattacks, hacking and state-backed digital throttling aimed at disrupting independent reporting platforms, is on the rise.
“When digital threats evolve faster than legal safeguards, state inaction allows perpetrators to act with near-total impunity.
“Digital attacks are not virtual nuisances; they facilitate physical violence and create a pervasive chilling effect across the region.
“Impunity persists because those who commit, order or sponsor crimes against journalists are rarely brought to justice.”
Physical violence against newsroom leaders remains an open wound in Southern Africa.
MISA, alongside its national chapters, including MISA Lesotho, reiterates calls for an immediate end to official inertia in addressing physical crimes against journalists.
“Specifically, we demand full, transparent investigations and the swift prosecution of all perpetrators responsible for the abduction and violent targeting of Lesotho editor Kananelo Boloetse.
“The failure to prosecute those responsible for abducting and attacking editors decisively sends a dangerous signal that targeting the press carries no consequences. Justice delayed is justice denied.
“Until those who abduct, assault and intimidate journalists face the full force of the law, impunity will persist.”
In the photo: AI-generated image depicting African journalists at work.
