D uring 2005, the mass media continued to contribute to the country’s growing democracy, promoting pluralism of ideas and encouraging citizens to exercise their rights. In February that year, the country’s first truly democratic constitution came into force, as new President Armando Guebuzo took office. As before, the new constitution continues to defend freedom of expression, although the shadow of the 1991 Press Law still hangs over the media. This law, though granting journalists wide-ranging freedoms, rights and protection, allows for press freedom to be limited with regard to respect for the constitution, human dignity, and the imperatives of foreign policy and national defence. Of particular concern to media practitioners was the passing of a decree by government in December 2004 that increased fines for press-related crimes by 1100 per cent. Apart from the fines now being much heavier than before, concerns were raised by the judicial sector about this decree altering the ordinary law. Guebuzo’s openness and Chissano’s about-turn In his first week in office, President Guebuzo invited the country’s editors to his official residence. This was seen as a positive sign of openness towards the media by Joaquim Chissano’s successor. During 2005, Guebuzo also began including independent media journalists on his trips abroad – something that was unheard of during Chissano’s 18 years in power. This contributed to a more expressive media, and provided readers, listeners and viewers with more diversified information. In the same year, to mark Radio Mozambique’s 30th anniversary, Chissano gave a speech on air, which was seen as an attack on the press. The former president, seen to be a public supporter of press freedom during his presidency, surprised the nation by voicing “concern” with the proliferation of mass media, especially those distributed by fax or e-mail. He stated that the owners of such media were involved in futile survival strategies. Many journalists retaliated, saying that Chissano’s speech demonstrated “relief” by someone who was forced by circumstances to live with an openness he did not truly favour. Editor of the Zambeze weekly newspaper Lourenco Jossias said that Chissano had shown that he did not know the critical role that the media played in a democracy. Jossias also noted that, apart from adding to pluralism, these so-called “survival newspapers” contributed to the state by paying taxes and lowering the high rates of unemployment. Aggressive incidents Despite constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression in Mozambique, two serious cases of aggression towards journalists took place in 2005, raising concern among those in the media. In one incident, editor of the SOICO media group Jeremias Langa was attacked at gunpoint on January 27 while travelling home from work. Langa recalls hearing his attackers say that he “speaks too much” and that he should be careful so that nothing happens to him, as it did to slain investigative journalist Carlos Cardoso. Langa survived, losing only his car in the attack. The other incident occurred in Sofala province and involved journalist Antonio Chimundo and photographic reporter Jorge Ataide, both from Diario de Mocambique. Two Rapid Reaction Force (FIR) agents arrested them, alleging that the journalists had committed a crime by photographing them without authorisation. They were released, although Ataide’s digital camera was confiscated and the images he had taken erased. So This Is Democracy? 2005 -76- Media Institute of Southern Africa