and different groups of people in respect of which treaties and protocols have been adopted under the UN framework. Relevant to this report are recommendations pertaining to freedom of association. It is important to note that freedom of expression and by extension artistic expression, produced as least seven recommendations out of the 177. In Recommendation No. 158, it was couched as follows: Repeal or significantly reform the Public Order and Security Act, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and criminal code provisions that restrict freedoms of assembly and expression The Zimbabwe government however rejected a recommendation specific to freedom of expression, which would have upheld its international obligations to respect the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and cease arrests, harassment and detention of individuals with different views. In 2012 the government of Zimbabwe, in consultation with stakeholders came up with a National Plan of Action (NPA) for the implementation of the accepted recommendations with clear timelines and outcomes. The NPA was meant to then feed into the Mid-Term Report which was submitted in June 2014. As this report was submitted, other stakeholders provided shadow reports analysing the extent to which recommendations had been implemented. The Mid-Term Report looks at the measures taken by government to implement the UPR recommendations. The report makes reference to challenges which remain in terms of fully achieving the outcome of implementing the recommendations as they are clustered. It further proposes the way forward in terms of envisaged action and/or activities to achieve full implementation in the short and long term. As regards to freedom of expression, the Mid-Term Report does not address measures taken or outstanding in order to ensure full implementation. While in the National Plan of Action government undertook to issue broadcasting licences to community radios, in the report it makes reference to ZBC Radio stations as examples of existing commercial radio stations. It also claims that 70 | P a g e