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SOUTHERN AFRICA PRESS FREEDOM REPORT 2019-2020

Lesotho journalists on duty
CREDIT: SECHABA
MOKHETI

broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, is
accused of being a mouthpiece of the state and of
biased reporting (6). The media fraternity and the
public, however, remain hopeful that President
Lazarus Chakwera’s political regime that came
into power in 2020 will positively transform the
public broadcaster.
Mozambique on the other hand has seen
conflicts in the central and northern parts of the
country, while the state of the media deteriorated
due to arbitrary detentions, assaults, threats
against journalists, and media break-ins,
attributed to coverage of the conflict (7). Notably,
two journalists Amade Abubacar and Germano
Adriano were detained in January and February
2019 respectively for allegedly reporting on the
conflict in Cabo Delgado province. Journalist
Fernando Banze was charged and prosecuted
for defaming the president for publishing a letter
criticising the president.
In April 2020, journalist Ibraimo Mbaruco
disappeared and has not been seen since. His
last text message to colleagues was that he had
been surrounded by soldiers.
In Tanzania, free expression and media

freedom have been on a decline as a result of
the restrictive legal and policy framework (8).
The enactment and implementation of several
laws including the Media Services Act of 2016;
Cyber Crimes Act and Statistics Act of 2015;
and regulations such as the Electronic and
Postal Communications Act’s online and offline
regulations create unfavorable conditions for
journalists and media to freely exercise their
obligations.
The media and journalists have been under
constant attacks by powerful individuals and
institutions because of their work (9). Suspension
of newspapers; imposition of fines on radio
and television stations; journalists’ arrest and
arbitrary detention; closure of online media; and
verbal and written warnings issued to media and
journalists have characterized the industry.
On
21
October
2020,
the
Tanzania
Communications Regulatory Authority issued a
directive suspending bulk short messaging (SMS)
and bulk voice calling services from 24 October
to 11 November 2020, citing the “adverse”
impact they might have on the general elections.
Internet throttling and social media censorship in
the run-up to the elections were reported.

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