The Campaign for Free Expression (CFE), in partnership with the Zimbabwe
National Editors’ Forum (ZINEF), hosted a Media Defence Seminar on Wednesday,
November 8, 2023, in Harare, Zimbabwe. Supported by Media Defence London and
the Irish Embassy in Pretoria, the event gathered journalists, publications, and
stations from both private and state media sectors to discuss strategies for handling
legal cases against journalists and media houses, many of which are Strategic
Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) cases.

SLAPP cases are legal actions aimed at intimidating critics or those who speak out
against powerful institutions, rather than seeking justice. These cases often involve
defamation claims, spreading false information, or national security law violations,
exploiting unequal financial resources to stifle debate and restrict free speech.
The seminar addressed the growing need to tackle SLAPP cases in the region.
While South Africa has seen increasing awareness of SLAPP lawsuits, knowledge in
the rest of Southern Africa remains limited. Through stakeholder consultations and
case analyses, the seminar examined the causes behind the rising trend of legal
action against journalists and proposed strategies for regional collaboration to
safeguard press freedom.

Speakers included human rights lawyers, senior journalists, and activists such as
Anton Harber, Executive Director at CFE; Lynette Manzini, News Editor at Open
Parly ZW; Nigel Nyamutumbu, Coordinator of the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe
(MAZ); and Doug Coltart, a human rights lawyer with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights.