State of the media in Southern Africa - 2003 Mozambique by Julieta Machimuassana Langa Julieta Machimuassana Langa is a senior lecuturer in the Department of Linguistics and Literature at the Eduardo Mondlane University. She is also the chairperson of the High Council for Social Communication and Vice-Chairperson of the African Communication Regulatory Bodies Network I n Mozambique the media operates in a democratic environment, as favoured by the 1990 Constitution. The Press Law defines media activity, the rights and duties of its profession als and ownership issues. The law also establishes mandates, compositions, competency and attributions to the High Council for Social Communication (CSCS), a state body delegated by the Constitution, to assure independence of the media, freedom of press, right to information, as well as broadcast rights, among other issues. Examining the Constitution, the Press Law and the performance of the media and considering the nature and social and political dimensions of the many media cases reported in 2003, it is fair to say that the political and legal environment has been conducive to the exercising of freedom of speech. However, it is necessary to call attention to the fact that this law has never been regulated, which brings as many constraints to media practitioners as it does to the general public. In Mozambique, the law praises the diversity and plurality of information, which encourages citizens to establish media enterprises. The new publications and broadcasters that appeared in 2003 are relatively few when compared with the “boom” which occurred between 1990 and 2002. In this context, we have to point out the ascent of a new via-fax newspaper, the Diário de Noticias (The News Diary), composed of staff that formerly worked in the Zambeze, Mediafax, Vertical and Correio da Manhã newspapers. This new title doesn’t seem to really add significant value to media diversity in Mozambique since, their origin, selection and style seem to be merely an extension of the newspapers cited above. In terms of readership, it also continues to target the same elite who have access to telefax or e-mail. The Africa Mais (Africa More) magazine, born in late December, is a ‘prestige’ publication. Although it does not constitute new media, we must take into account that 2003 was a consolidation year for community radio stations who operate in all provinces, and also the year when the state broadcaster saw greater territorial expansion. Relationship between Media and Government Throughout the year relations between Government and the media were characterized by greater openness aimed at improving crucial issues, such as access to official information sources, which have been debated since 2000. In fact, it was observed that: (i) for the first time, in 2003, the government, through the State Minister on Presidential Parliamentary affairs and representing the Prime Minister, pronounced publicly and favourably on the legislative need for access to information; (ii) The Prime Minister Information Cabinet, promoted debates with media practitioners for a better relationship and also worked on training and creating spokesman positions in ministries, province governments and other state institutions seeking to improve the flow of information on government activities to the media and society in general; (iii) the highest legislative body in the country, the Republic Assembly, entered into debate with journalists on access information and news coverage; and (iv) the Prime Minister maintained weekly meetings with the press in which he supplied information regarding government activities and answered questions from journalists. So This Is Democracy? 2003 53 Media Institute of Southern Africa