State of the media in Southern Africa - 2003 Angola BY ISMAEL MATEUS 2 003 saw few developments within the media sector in Angola. This sluggish progress can be equated with the diminutive steps being taken to develop the fledgling democracy in Angola. Nonetheless, developments were noted in the previous year but it would be prudent to note that growth within the sector was irregular, and marked mainly by three characteristics: a) Excessive politicization of the media and excessive vulnerability to pressures from political agents. b) Lack of a growth strategy for the media c) A deepening division between state and private media based on a lack of training opportunities available to media practitioners. This has led to deepening divisions amongst the educated and less educated. Obviously, the most critical of these situations is the lack of a strategic vision in the media, that once existing would lead to credible strategies to solve most of the problems facing journalists and journalism in Angola. In a country that has recently emerged from civil war and where great social inequities are present, the lack of a vibrant regional and local press is blatantly evident. At present the media serves merely as a conveyor of ‘state’ information - no active investigative journalism is practiced and there certainly is no definitive move to review information rights. There is an urgent need for the media to become involved in strategic national programmes. The media can play an important role in the fight against poverty, advocating for human rights and for an enabling legislative environment. 2003 did not register any effective alteration in how Government and the National Assembly (the two organs with legislative capacity) conduct itself with regard to the media. No law or executive decree directly related to the media was approved in the previous year. However, some laws that interfere with information rights and media activities - and which relate more to national development initiatives - were approved without any input from the media sector. Among these laws proposed by the National Assembly is the State Secret law (Law 10/02) and another which deals with access to official documents (law 11/02). Although there is general support to the State Secret law, journalists would like to see article 26 of the law altered. This law states that “ anyone who (...) has access to classified information and materials (...) and proceeds to disseminate that information to the public without permission, is subject to penalties from six months to two years imprisonment’. During 2003 there was opportunity to debate this law and journalists condemned this particular clause saying that public interest reigns supreme. No extent of pressure from the media or public has impacted on the government’s decision to retain this law. Similarly law 11/02, which does not give special recognition to the need for journalists to access information, is retained on the statute books. Thus, these two laws, which in general are positive, do not increase the guarantees for greater access to information and media freedom. So This Is Democracy? 2003 17 Media Institute of Southern Africa