Governments Criminalizing Journalists - Amnesty International
Amnesty International has expressed concern that across Southern Africa governments are using COVID-19 as a pretext for targeting journalists.
Speaking on World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd the group’s Director for East and Southern Africa Deprose Muchena stated, “From Madagascar to Zambia, we have seen governments criminalizing journalists and shutting down media outlets that are perceived to be calling out poor government responses to COVID-19.”
“With the disease continuing to spread, and no end yet in sight, there has never been a greater need for accurate news and information to help people stay informed and safe. Yet the authorities across the region are targeting journalists and media houses for their critical reporting on the pandemic which is weakening this vital information flow,” he continued.
Among the examples prompting concern are the move by the Zambian authorities to shut down independent television news channel Prime TV.
“The cancellation came after the alleged refusal by the station to air the government’s COVID-19 public awareness campaigns because the station was owed money for airing previous state advertisements different to public awareness. Prime TV, as an independent station, depends on advertising revenue to pay the salaries of its staff and operational costs. The authorities should immediately reverse the license cancellation for Prime TV and allow it to continue broadcasting without any harassment and intimidation,” Amnesty International writes.
“Any effective response to COVID-19 will happen in an environment of respect for human rights and where the media is allowed to report freely. Without the media, the public will be in the dark. Southern African authorities must respect the right to freedom of expression and media freedom and stop treating the media with contempt and open up the civic space for journalists to do their work freely and safely. The real enemy is COVID-19, not the media,” Muchena is quoted as stating.
Amnesty International also pointed to the example of the arrest and pre-trial detention of Madagascar’s publishing director and journalist at the Ny Valosoa newspaper Arphine Helisoa who has been charged with spreading fake news and inciting hatred towards President Andry Rajoelina after criticizing the President’s response to the pandemic.
Other examples listed include those from Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Swaziland, South Africa, Angola and Mozambique.
“With advertising revenues collapsing due to COVID-19, many media houses will struggle to survive; if you add harassment and censorship by governments, the future of media freedom and independent journalism in the region looks even more gloomy,” Muchena continued.
