ANALYSIS:
There are laws that interfere with freedom of speech and the responsibilities of the media, such
as the Law on National Security and the Law on State Secrets, which establish a degree of
limitation to the practice of the right of free expression. Examples of such restrictions:
- the prohibition of simulcasts of international broadcasters transmitting programmes of
public interest and the case of the ban on repeater broadcasts between Lubango’s Radio
2000 (commercial station) and Voice of America.
-

Angola did not participate in a project common to all countries with Portuguese as the
official language, which would have introduced simulcasts of the Portuguese RTP-África
on Televisão Pública de Angola. All other Portuguese-speaking countries joined the project.

- The Broadcasting Law in Angola prohibits the use of shortwave to any station that is not
governmental. Emissora Católica de Angola (Radio Ecclésia), for example, was barred
from broadcasting beyond the capital Luanda. The same Broadcasting Law prescribes the
power of transmitters of non-governmental operators ensuring that no private operator can
broadcast with a stronger signal than the public/state radio channels.
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

1.4

1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1
1.5

Entry into and practice of the journalistic profession is legally
unrestricted.

.
ANALYSIS:
Unrestricted entry into and the practice of journalism are guaranteed, provided all necessary
requirements are met by the institution contracting the journalist. Legally, there is no requirement as far as entry is concerned. In practice, a code of ethics prescribes some restrictions that
establish a set of behavioural codes considered appropriate to the practice of the profession.
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

1.5

3, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2
2.5

Protection of confidential sources of information is guaranteed by law.

ANALYSIS:
The protection of confidential sources of information is guaranteed by law: “Journalists are not
obliged to disclose their information sources and their non-disclosure cannot be subjected to
any direct or indirect sanction” (Article 6 [4] current Press Law). The law gives the same right
to secrecy to the editors of press houses if they happen to know who the sources are.
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:
So This Is Democracy? 2005

2, 2, 4, 2, 2, 3, 4, 2
2.6
-175-

Media Institute of Southern Africa

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