CHAIRPERSON of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Lesotho Chapter, Nkoale Oetsi Tšoana has been elected as the Deputy Chairperson of the Southern African region.

He was elected during a seven-country meeting which was held on Friday and Saturday, in Zimbabwe.

The intention was to discuss Internet Governance Forum and Regional Governing Councils progress among other things.
Lesotho was represented by Mr Tšoana and the National Director of MISA Lesotho, Lekhetho Ntsukunyane Makhanya.

Other countries that attended the meeting included Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.
Mr Tšoana said the election will help his vision of seeing the Southern African region collaborating for the betterment of the organisation, which he said can be achieved through re-visiting of the organisation's foundations that include the regional constitution and policies.
He highlighted a need for collaboration among the chapters for them to become self-sufficient instead of relying on donations which sometimes run dry for a long time, crippling the organisation's daily operations and its main mandate of advocacy for rights of journalists.
He said the meeting also noted the importance of looking into the expansion of MISA mandate, by adding to it, the welfare of media practitioners.