IMS statement on the post-election media situation in Mozambique

In recent weeks, police have injured several journalists. For example, on 21 October, police fired teargas at a group of journalists in the capital city of Maputo, injuring 15 media workers, two of them seriously, while they were interviewing a leader of Mozambique’s political opposition. Among them were TV Glória camera operator Bruno Marrengula, who was hit in the leg by a teargas canister.

On 24 October, according to a report by IMS partner, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Nuno Gemusse Alberto, a reporter for Rádio Comunitária Monte Gilé, was arrested and severely beaten at a local police station in the province of Zambezia.

Reporters Without Borders reports that on 26 October, police threatened five journalists from Radio Esperança, TV Sucesso and TV Amaramba-Moz and confiscated their phones while they were filming clashes between police and protesters. And on 30 October, a journalist from Radio Mozambique was injured when his car was attacked with stones by protesters.

In addition to the physical violence, online threats against journalists are on the rise with some threats reported to be linked directly to state security agents. Since 25 October, Mozambique’s government has imposed a wide-ranging internet shutdown, citing security concerns.

Together, these repressive measures – physical violence, online threats and an internet shutdown – are violating the Mozambican public’s right to access to information and have created a situation in which human rights abuses, including attacks on journalists, are increasingly kept in the dark. Meanwhile, journalists are reporting that the constant threat of violence is inducing fear and self-censorship among the media.

IMS calls on all duty bearers to take urgent and effective measures to put an end to the ongoing violence and threats against media workers and to respect and protect the fundamental rights of media as stated in Article 48 of Mozambique’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of expression, press freedom and the right to access to information. Specifically, we join MISA-Mozambique in demanding that:

• Independent investigations be carried out to account for all attacks against journalists, including Nuno Gemusse Alberto, whose perpetrators have been named.
• That the Mozambican government and police ensure the safety and freedom of operation for media professionals in all their functions and activities.
• That the National Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman expeditiously and transparently handle complaints regarding attacks on journalists raised by MISA and other civil society groups.