THE JOURNEY TO PRESS FREEDOM IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK

By Dickson Mulashani

"Journalists and media houses across East and Southern Africa came under increasing attack in the past year, despite the urgent need for access to information during the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises in the region", Amnesty International.

Across the region, media workers have been laid off, television stations suspended or shutdown, private press targeted and journalists intimidated in a heavy blow to the right to freedom of expression and access to information.

“What we have witnessed in the past year, as far as media and journalistic freedom is concerned, can only be described as a dark period,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, on World Press Freedom Day.

“This blatant attack on independent journalism across the region – sends a chilling message that dissent and the uncovering of uncomfortable truths will not be tolerated. National authorities across East and Southern Africa must stop this roll back of media freedoms and ensure that media professionals are safe and protected to do their job.”

To cite some cases, In Zimbabwe, freelance journalist and anti-corruption activist, Hopewell Chin’ono, has been the subject of police intimidation and harassment, having been detained three times between July 2020 and January 2021. He has spent more than 80 days in detention for exposing government corruption and supporting the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

On 28 April, the High Court quashed charges against Chin’ono of communicating false information following months of persecution. The court ruled that the law used by the police to arrest him in January no longer exists.

However, Chin’ono is still facing trial for alleged obstruction of justice on another case. In addition to that , at least 25 journalists were assaulted and arbitrarily arrested and detained while working. Journalists were frequently ordered to delete their videos or photographs without a valid reason.

Although media industry in Africa is facing challenges the fact that efforts made to keep them safe and working freely can not be ignored nor taken for granted, some governments and non- governmental institutions are doing their best and we are witnessing change, YES POSITIVE CHANGE. Example in East Africa)Journalist detaining cases are less compared to the year 2016 - 2020 (even though a case of Ngorongoro in Tanzania can not be ignored) but  still rope that tightened the freedom of the media is now being loosen and if we continue the hard work it will completely untie. 

Recently Tanzania has witnessed a shift of gesture on media treatment as her sixth President Hon. Samia Suluhu Hassan declared a free media and information space but insisted on moral and lawful operations.

 

This is part of the public press release by the statehouse cementing on the government VS media relations 

 President Samia urged the media to provide relevant information, analyze it and additionally offer substantive opinions to the public, while also serving as a platform for debate and discussion in accordance to the law, rules and regulations considering peace and harmony of the nation.

Truth or danger? In places where freedom of expression is not respected the media face a choice: self-censor or put yourself at risk.

When the media cannot accurately tell the whole story, it’s impossible to achieve balanced, high quality journalism. In countries where the media are pressured to only report on things which align with the ideological or political framework: journalists are forced to self-censor. Some do not report the full story, while others choose to report on other, ‘safer’ topics instead.

While some brave journalists continue to report on topics regardless of censorship, and often risk fines, legal cases, prison sentences or violence.

A respect for freedom of expression is an essential element for a functioning and accurate media.

I conclude by saying the Public attention creates scrutiny and is a disincentive for corruption or human rights abuses. The truths that quality investigative journalism uncovers can topple governments, alter international policies, and improve human rights standards internationally.

A strong, independent media ensures transparency and helps reduce maladministration. Freedom of expression protects the rights of reporters, bloggers and news outlets – and the general public – to speak critically.

Accurate information is of huge importance to public debate: forming shared values and influencing policies at local, national and international levels. Investigative journalism is one of the most public-facing ways of sharing new information. Freedom of expression supports and protects the press’s ability to freely research and report in the public interest thus I cement on my point that despite the challenges, the journey to press freedom is on the right track.