In June 2024, over 100 members of civil society, the media and others took part in a Freedom of Expression Summit in Botswana, convened by the Campaign for Free Expression. Here we present the research paper on the state of free expression in Botswana, compiled for the gathering by Dr Allen Munoriyarwa; a record of proceedings; and the Free Expression Declaration adopted by
attendees.

Despite its constitution, freedom of Expression in Eswatini remains an illusory fiction. This was made clear by the harsh and unjust sentencing of two former MPs for treason and murder, making clear the King’s intolerance for any dissent. This was one of a number of acts of censorship, some direct and some indirect, that has led to a climate of fear and self-censorship.

Botswana has published a far-reaching Draft Freedom of Information Bill. We took a close look at how it matches up to international standards.

The landscape for free expression in South Africa is darkening, our major new report warns. Although the country has enjoyed a great deal of openness since the dawn of democracy in1994, the report identifies a startling number of growing threats to our freedom to speak out and to enjoy an open and free media. These include assassinations, new laws, attacks on journalists, disruption of protests by the police, growing state surveillance of citizens and the violent silencing of women and groups such as  LBBTQ+ people.

This is the report into our second Eswatini Freedom of Expression Summit. Held on 15 June 2023 in Manzini, the meeting brought together 150 representatives of all sectors of the country’s civil society to discuss the state of free expression and democracy. It was organised in partnership with the Canadian High Commission, the British High Commission, UN Eswatini and the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Government Organisations (Cango).

This CFE report, The State of Free Expression in the South African Cultural Sector: An Investigation explores the factors that affect and disrupt growth and sustainability in the arts and culture sector, as detailed by cultural workers. It looks at the extent to which political pressures lead to censorship and censorship to self-censorship, and the impact this has on the ability of cultural workers to engage in their sector.

With the public health sector facing tremendous challenges due to corruption, maladministration, incompetence and neglect, public health workers struggle to serve their patients diligently. Worse, they cannot freely speak out to address their grievances. Some senior government hospital officials are punishing workers who voice concerns about working conditions that may threaten patients’ lives, using public service rules and regulations as a cover-up. Our research report details how government officials have politicised the management of public hospitals, stifled dissent and blocked the public’s access to information that can be used to claim accountability.

This is a report on a Freedom of Expression (FoE) Summit held in Manzini on October 20, 2022. About 100 civil society representatives from a broad range of organisations met to highlight the need for greater FoE in a country currently facing serious political and economic challenges.

The summit was organised by the Inhlase Centre for Investigative Journalism, based in Mbabane, and the Campaign for Free Expression, based in Johannesburg.