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GPU Re-Echoes Call for Journalism Without Fear or Favour

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GPU Re-Echoes Call for Journalism Without Fear or Favour

Banjul, May 03: Today marks the 27th edition of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD). May 3rd has been set aside by the United Nations to pay tribute to journalism and journalists who have been killed in line of duty.

It is also a day to remind governments of the need to uphold the values and principles of press freedom while providing a platform for media professionals to reflect on the freedom and responsibility of the media.

This year’s commemoration comes at a time the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, which poses enormous challenges to the freedom and development of the media.

Dozens of journalists have already been killed in pursuit of stories by the virus, besides nearly two dozen journalists who have been killed in the first quarter of 2020.

About 250 journalists are currently in prison and at risk of coronavirus. To complicate matters even more, the coronavirus pandemic is being used by governments around the world to stifle press freedom and the right of the citizens to exercise freedom of expression and access to information.

The GPU president, Sheriff Bojang Jr., said: “Journalism has never been more endangered. Not only are journalists being killed but also media houses are overstretched in human and financial resources terms.”
He added: “But this is also the time for the media to persevere and rise to the challenge. Information has never been more of a life and death issue, but misinformation can be as dangerous as the lack of information. So, we have to up our game.”

Meanwhile, the theme for this year’s commemoration of World Press Freedom Day is ‘Journalism without fear or favour’. In this view, the GPU calls on journalists in The Gambia to honour their social contract with people, more so in these trying times.

We call on the public to support journalists, bearing in mind the words of Nelson Mandela that “none of our irritations with the perceived inadequacies of the media should ever allow us to suggest even faintly that the independence of the press could be compromised or coerced.”

In the wake of the rising number of coronavirus patients in the country, we wish to renew our call to the government, through the Ministry of Health, to provide support that is critically needed to promote effective reporting and protect journalists from COVID 19. Reporters are frontline workers who are putting their lives at risk in order to keep the public informed.

The GPU notes with appreciation the improvements that The Gambia has made in the latest world press freedom index released by Reporters Without Borders. Out of 180 countries surveyed, the country has been ranked 87 in 2019, up from 92 in 2018.

Despite the improvements, the year 2019 is particularly remembered for the attack on the four journalists by supporters of the President. This incident, like dozens of similar incidents that happened since the new government took over in 2017, was never investigated as promised by the authorities.

The Union remained deeply concerned by the new wave of attacks in 2020, including the arbitrary arrest of four media workers and the unlawful closure of two radio stations over coverage of anti-government protests.

We therefore call on the government to address the issue of impunity for crimes against journalists and carry out the media laws reforms with speed and purpose.

Stakeholders Must Promote and Protect the Safety of Journalists in Nigeria-IMS

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Stakeholders Must Promote and Protect the Safety of Journalists in Nigeria-IMS

The Institute for Media and Society (IMS) in Nigeria is delighted to join the rest of the world in celebrating the World Press Freedom Day 2020 with the theme: Journalism Without Fear or Favour.

We are in a time of great complexity. The global community struggles against COVID-19 which has infected more than three million persons and claimed more than two hundred thousand lives.

Journalism finds itself in a situation where it has to provide information and education to diverse audiences in which there is limited understanding of the nature of this disease and destructive potentials.

In many contexts, misinformation and disinformation are competing vigorously for the public space. This tasks the navigational competences of journalists.

Available evidence shows that journalists are doing a lot in providing accurate and timely information on the pandemic and the efforts of various national institutions in containing it.

However, the Institute for Media and Society is worried about the critical challenges that journalists in Nigeria are facing in the coverage of the pandemic. In various parts of the country, the rights of journalists have been violated in the course of performing official duty.

In some of the recent cases, a journalist was sacked as head of a state-owned newspaper in Rivers State, two journalists were ‘barred for life’ from their duty posts in Ebonyi State, while another was arrested and detained over an interview that he anchored on a radio programme in Akwa Ibom State.

These actions and trend are unacceptable in a constitutional democracy. It is improper that at a critical period that journalists need strong support and encouragement to cover the COVID-19 pandemic, they are being muzzled by political office holders and other vested interests.

In the full spirit of Press Freedom Day, IMS urges national institutions to carry out the following important and urgent responsibilities:

The Government (at federal and state levels):

i)Provide conducive environment for the media by ensuring the safety of journalists and unfettered access to information.

ii)Support the provision of insurance and protection equipment for all journalists who operate on the frontline in the coverage of Covid-19 iii) Pay compensation to journalists whose rights have been breached

To the Civil Society:

i)Strengthen its advocacy for the freedom of the press

ii) Partner with the media to uplift the latter’s capacity in sustaining courageous journalism

To Security agencies:

i) Orientate their personnel on maintaining a good relationship with journalists

ii) Engage with stakeholders institutions to develop an improved relationship between the media and security personnel

To the media:

i)Continue to provide accurate and trusted information to the public on Covid-19

ii)Commit quality attention to the transparency and accountability of public institutions in the management of the fight against Covid -19

iii)Prioritise attention to managing the safety of journalists on the field in the coverage of Covid-19.

Once again, IMS salutes all journalists on World Press Freedom Day for their sacrifices and urges them to stay safe.

Dr. Akin Akingbulu

Executive Director

Institute for Media and Society (IMS).

+234 80330 79828

akin[@]imesoimeso.org akinakingbulu1[@]gmail.com

HRNJ-Uganda Calls for an End to Violations Against Journalists

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HRNJ-Uganda Calls for an End to Violations Against Journalists

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) joins the rest of the world in celebrating World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) at a time when the word is in near-total lockdown. Since 1993, journalism has been celebrated in different ways but this year we do so in such a historical manner when we cannot congregate but soldier on virtually.

This year’s theme, ‘Journalism Without Fear or Favour,’ shows that we have to make concrete strategies to liberate the media to be fearless, independent and relevant in exercising its oversight role in society. Censorship and favoritism hinder the media from exploring their full potential in news coverage.

Congratulations to the men and women who make this year’s theme have relevance, ‘Hundreds of journalists in Uganda and world over are putting their lives at the frontline to serve their communities as first responsibility and governments during this difficult time amidst challenges occasioned by the nature of their work.

Despite the risks involved, journalists have saved humanity through useful information to the public and relevant actors. Our critical role in information dissemination and education has been appreciated in different ways.

We however note the increasing levels of impunity for crimes against journalists. To this end, we demand those in authority to exercise restraint and observe the rights of journalists and reprimand the perpetrators. Any acts of aggression against journalists is an affront to press freedom.

The world is in a battle against this coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and information is one weapon among others that we cannot ignore during this push back. Professionalism in journalism must be upheld in all ways.

Professionalism in journalism must be upheld in all ways. HRNJ-Uganda has documented at least 14 cases of arrests, assault, detentions, and confiscation of gadgets from journalists while in line of duty during this period of lockdown and curfew in the country. We continue to demand that these affected journalists access justice.

Generally, Press freedom has not improved since last year’s WPFD celebrations as shown in a report that HRNJ-Uganda is about to release. Last year, we documented over 160 cases of abuse and violations against journalists in the course of their work. This exemplifies restrictions on press freedom in Uganda which if left unchecked will hinder good journalism. On this WPFD, we call on government and other development partners to collaborate in a bid to end crimes against journalists. We urge for ethical and professional journalism at all times.

Protecting Media Freedom and Access to Information in Zimbabwe: MISA’s Recommendations

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Protecting Media Freedom and Access to Information in Zimbabwe: MISA’s Recommendations

MISA Zimbabwe shares its Way Forward recommendations for defending media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information to mark World Press Freedom Day 2020.

 

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Refine the Freedom of Information Bill

  • The Bill still needs refinement by including provisions such as providing for access to information held by private bodies and the establishment of an independent body to monitor compliance with the proposed law.

Incorporate key recommendations into the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill

Uphold people’s right to privacy

  • Ensure Zimbabwe’s proposed Protection of Personal Information Bill curbs violations of privacy and is not used by the state as a basis for surveillance that infringes citizens’ right to privacy.

Regulate the broadcasting services sector

Push for extensive amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act through the proposed Broadcasting Services Amendment to ensure:

  • Broadcasters and other electronic media of communication are independent of control by government or by political or commercial interests
  • The completion of switching analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting
  • The relaxation of restrictions and thresholds on foreign direct investment to allow for more independent players in the sector.

PUBLIC BROADCASTER

Transform ZBC into an independent broadcaster

Improve ZBC programming

  • Institute and implement a practical ZBC turnaround strategy that will see the public broadcaster broadcast modern, quality and relevant public interest programming.

Lower the hurdles for community radio licences

  • Make registration and application fees for community radio stations affordable. The application process should also aim to promote the freedom of the establishment of broadcasting services as articulated in Section 61 (3) of the Zimbabwe Constitution.

SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS

Investigate and prosecute crimes against journalists

Urge public figures to condemn crimes against journalists

  • Encourage government, police and members of political parties to issue statements condemning media freedom violations. These should include clear warnings of the consequences of committing such violations.

Revisit the police-media action plan

  • The media and police should revisit and finally implement the 2017 resolutions and action planaimed at improving the working relationship between the media and the police.

MEDIA PROFESSIONALISM

  • Continue to provide and develop journalism skills for journalists in line with global media trends as part of efforts to ensure a professional and ethical media.

 

These recommendations are taken from our annual state of the media 2019 report. You can find all of these in our resource centre on our website. You can also download a PDF copy of the 2020 Way Foward to print and share.

IPC Enjoins Government, Institutional Stakeholders to Ensure Safe Working Environment For Journalists and Media Practitioners

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IPC Enjoins Government, Institutional Stakeholders to Ensure Safe Working Environment For Journalists and Media Practitioners

As the global society celebrates the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2020, the International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos, has reminded the Nigerian government and related institutional bodies; the legislature, the judiciary, the security agencies and media associations of the critical role they need to play for the survival of press freedom.  Collectively, IPC says they need to ensure an enabling environment and measures for the safety and media independence of Journalism and media practitioners.

WPFD is a day declared by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness on the importance of freedom of the press as enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In a statement to commemorate 2020 WPFD, marked every 3rd of May, IPC notes that in line with this year’s theme, ‘Journalism without fear or favour’, the right to freedom of expression and the rights of the press to freely publish, editorialize, critique and inform without fear is a fundamental principle of thriving democracies, and economies of successful governments which must be upheld in Nigeria.

IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in the statement noted that the government and related institutional stakeholders owe it a duty to respect and uphold press freedom while reaffirming the crucial roles of Journalists and media practitioners, especially as the Coronavirus pandemic ravages the world. He noted the associated crisis of the pandemic have brought to fore the vital roles of the Journalism profession, as purveyors of information, providing scientific and health education to the anxious on the pandemic, alongside deflating misinformation, which in turn save lives.

Mr. Arogundade also observed that the challenges of the pandemic cut across all borders, hence the Nigerian government must not make media practice difficult especially as the media must continually be able to provide information to the public without fear and intimidation.

He however expressed concern that the IPC have monitored and documented at least 22 press freedom violations in the course of the coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and enjoins the government to identify the gaps in government and media relations following which it should reinforce its commitment to safety of journalists and other media workers by creating a supportive environment for press freedom in the country; protecting the rights and safety of Journalists and other media professionals while upholding independent and professional Journalism free from political Influence.

“Incessant restrictions and limits to press freedom are evident in the cases of documented attacks including the use of security agents to arrest media workers and perpetrate other press freedom violations and attacks against Journalists. These impediments are also reflected in the government’s denial of access to information by the media, the existence of Cybercrime Act and the Anti-terrorism Act which have been actively used to suppress freedom of expression in the country, and other limitations on the rights of freedom of expression”, Mr. Arogundade stated.

“Government and related institutions must ensure the freedom of the press and remove all impediments to a free press. From recent past, we can see that the proposed National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech bill which prescribes a punishment of life imprisonment for any person found liable of committing this offence and a penalty of death by hanging; the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation and other Related Offences bill seek to give the authorities arbitrary powers to shut down the internet and limit access to social media, and make criticizing the government punishable with penalties of up to three years in prison, which clearly do not comply with international human rights standards”, he added.

IPC also paid tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty regionally and globally while saluting the efforts of journalists currently on the front lines of news reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr. Arogundade said as they continue to render this invaluable service to humanity, journalists should continue to free themselves of biases, shun misinformation and disinformation and always strive to be factually accurate.

Signed:

Olutoyin Ayoade

Communications Officer, IPC

[email protected]

+2348114503887

www.ipcng.org

CIPESA Submission to UN Special Rapporteur Spotlights Rights Concerns in Africa’s COVID-19 Response

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CIPESA Submission to UN Special Rapporteur Spotlights Rights Concerns in Africa’s COVID-19 Response

Many African governments have employed heavy-handed methods in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. These measures, both offline and online, have undermined various rights and there are fears that they might be entrenched after the pandemic subsides.

In response, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Assembly  has  issued detailed key principles which governments and law enforcement agencies should follow to avoid human rights abuses. During consultations to inform the guidelines, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) made submissions to the Special Rapporteur, highlighting major rights concerns in various African countries’ Covid-19 response.

Restrictions on the enjoyment of civil and political rights are permitted under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in order to protect public health. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) also permits the restriction of the enjoyment of the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, subject to the conditions under Article 4 including “promoting the general welfare in a democratic society”. However, CIPESA’s submission notes that various countries have abused emergency powers and thereby violated numerous rights.

Many African countries that have announced curfews, travel bans, compulsory quarantines, restrictions on public gatherings and closure of education institutions. These include Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. In enforcing these measures, many rights have been violated. In Nigeria, security forces had killed 18 people while enforcing the lockdown, by April 16, 2020, according to the National Human Rights Commission. In Rwanda, police shot and killed two people for violating the two-week lockdown. In Uganda, security forces have shot and wounded two people.

To stem the spread of misinformation, for instance, in Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe, it is now criminal to spread alleged misinformation on Covid-19. Scores of journalists and bloggers in Kenya, Guinea, Uganda, Egypt, among others, have been beaten, detained, or arraigned in court over their reporting on Covid-19.

Meanwhile, the extent of surveillance and data-based contact tracing in African countries is not fully known. So far, Kenya is reportedly monitoring the mobile phones of individuals who are under self-isolation. In South Africa, telecom companies are compelled to give the government location data unde the published amendments to the National Disaster Act to combat Covid-19. And in Uganda, a presidential adviser coordinating the Covid-19 fight said on April 3 that an “intensive surveillance” campaign was being launched with the aid of telecom companies to trace more than 2,000 individuals.  Disturbingly, most of the information about governments’ location surveillance programmes is ad hoc and dispersed across departments and agencies that might not have the remit to conduct such sensitive duties.

In his 10 key principles, the UN Special Rapporteur said that where new laws or regulations are adopted, any limitations on rights imposed must adhere to the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. He added that the free-flow of information is crucial in times of crisis and laws criminalising ‘false news’, including those targeting human rights defenders, must be avoided.

CIPESA has made various recommendations for state authorities to speedily reinstate  full protection for freedoms once the emergency is over. They include:

  • Dismantle the surveillance apparatus constituted as part of combating the spread of the coronavirus and destroy all the data collected during the tracking exercise as it would have served the purpose for which it was collected.
  • Make public announcements specifying the end of the restrictions and the reinstatement of all freedoms. This should specifically aim to assure citizens of confidence to enjoy their rights.
  • Issue transparency reports detailing the Corona virus-linked surveillance activity, including tools and technologies used, state agencies and private entities involved, number of persons whose phones and data were tracked, the types of data that was collected, which entities accessed the data, and what safeguards were instituted to guard against misuse of the data and the surveillance apparatus.
  • Repeal all laws, decrees, declarations and guidelines that could have intended to limit freedoms in the wake of Covid-19. There should be express declarations and statements that such interim or temporal measures were not aimed at limiting assembly and association but at containing Covid-19 and should not be applied in the aftermath of Covid-19.

Please find the full submission here.

MRA, IPC Petition Code of Conduct Bureau over Violation of Journalists Rights, Seek Removal of Ebonyi State Governor from Office for Abuse of Office

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MRA, IPC Petition Code of Conduct Bureau over Violation of Journalists Rights, Seek Removal of Ebonyi State Governor from Office for Abuse of Office

Two Lagos-based media support organizations, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the International Press Centre (IPC), have petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) asking it to sanction Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi for allegedly misconducting himself, breaching his oath of office and the Code of Conduct for Public Officers following his recent attacks on journalists in the State.

In a complaint addressed to the Chairman of the Bureau pursuant to Paragraph 3(e) of Part One to the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the organizations contended that Mr. Umahi is unfit to continue to hold the office of Governor and requested the Bureau to investigate the matter and invoke the provisions of Paragraph 18(2)(a) and (b) of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers contained in the Constitution to secure his removal from office and disqualification from holding any public office in Nigeria for the next 10 years.

Signed by MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo; and the Director of the IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the petition recounted the April 18 arrest of Mr. Chijioke Agwu, a reporter with the “Daily Sun” newspaper, on the instructions of the Governor. They also recalled the April 22 state-wide radio and television broadcast by the Governor in which he banned for life Mr. Agwu and Mr. Peter Okutu, a correspondent of the “Vanguard” newspaper, from entering the State Government House or any other Government facility in the State and from covering any government or official functions in the State.

The organizations attached an audio recording of the Governor’s broadcast to the petition, saying it contained inciting statements against the two journalists whom he banned, thereby putting their lives at risk, as well as threats to other journalists in the State whom he said would face dire consequences should they publish any negative story about his Government.

They noted that the actions and conduct of the Governor constitute an abuse of office in that he improperly and illegally used his position and power as Governor in an abusive way to oppress and violate the rights of citizens of Nigeria and put their lives at risk.

The organizations argued that the Governor has no authority under the Constitution or any other Law, whether as Governor or in any other capacity, to take the actions he took, particularly to impose a life ban on journalists or on any other citizen, who have not been charged with or convicted of any offence known to Law.

They accused the Governor of violating his Oath of Office and the Oath of Allegiance, contravening several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, putting Nigeria in a situation of having breached its international treaty obligations, particularly Article 66(2)(c) of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, where as a Member State of the Economic Community of West African States, Nigeria agreed to co-operate with other Member States in the area of information and undertook to “ensure respect for the rights of journalists.”  They cited the provisions of the Constitution which the Governor violated to include Sections 13, 22, 35(1), 35(3) and 39(1).

The organizations contended that by his illegal and unconstitutional actions, the Governor has brought Nigeria to ridicule before the international community and is responsible for Nigeria’s violation of several international instruments. Among these are the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as various resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly on the safety of journalists and actions that should be taken on impunity for crimes against journalists.

According to them, by conducting himself in the manner he did, the Governor acted arbitrarily and in a manner prejudicial to the rights of other persons, particularly media practitioners engaged in the lawful pursuit of their professional duties as journalists. They contend that he thereby violated the provisions of Paragraph 9 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers contained in the 1999 Constitution, which states that “A public officer shall not do or direct to be done, in abuse of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of any other person knowing that such act is unlawful or contrary to any government policy.” 

Mr. Arogundade said: “We consider the actions of Governor Umahi a grave threat to and assault on our fundamental rights and freedoms as citizens, particularly in the light of his relentless attacks on journalists whose roles are more important now than ever before in the context of a global pandemic that poses an existential threat to humanity. We are motivated to take this step by our conviction that if we in Nigeria are to overcome the current and future challenges, the ability of journalists to be able to continue their professional and constitutionally mandated role of gathering, processing and disseminating information to the public should not be hindered”

His views were echoed by Mr. Ojo, who noted that the Governor had deliberately and unlawfully created a toxic environment for journalists and other media practitioners in Ebonyi State by continually making it impossible for them to carry out their professional duties, recklessly inciting citizens against them and putting their lives and welfare at risk.

Mr. Ojo said: “It is clear to us from the actions and utterances of Governor Umahi that he is lawless and has no regard for the Constitution, his Oath of Office, or common decency. He believes that he is a law unto himself and we have no doubt that such a person is not fit to continue to hold such high office in Nigeria. We therefore intend to use all legal and constitutional means available to us to pursue this matter to its logical conclusion.”

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Stella Nwofia
Programme Manager, International Press Centre
Tel: +234 802 035 9629
E-mail: [email protected]

Ayode Longe
Director of Programmes, Media Rights Agenda
Tel: +234 802 329 8628
E-mail: [email protected]

Police Release Vision Group Journalist on Bond

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Police Release Vision Group Journalist on Bond

Police in Kamuli released Gwebayanga Tom, a Vision Group Correspondent in Buyende district on 22nd April 2020 after spending a night in a police cell at Kamuli Central Police Station, with charges of spreading harmful propaganda under case file no. CRB 436/2020. He is to report back on 1st May 2020.

When Gwebayanga was contacted after his release, he told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that his arrest is related to a story that was published in New Vision on 21st April 2020. “I wrote a story in the New Vision talking about theft of money that was donated by the International Development Institute to fight COVID-19. The organization gave 80 million shillings to the district COVID-19 task force in cash but they decided to share the money. The RDC got to know and wasn’t happy with the decision, said Gwebayanga”.

He added that he received a call at 2 pm local time on 21st April 2020 from the Vice Chairperson of Kamuli district Vincent Galisansana to have a meeting, only to find him with the entire team of the district task force at Kamuli district headquarters. He was interrogated and asked to disclose his source of information which he declined. “They asked me where I got the information and I refused, they took me in another room and forced me to apologise in the presence of a police officer who had a gun, Gwebayanga said”.

He also told HRNJ-Uganda that he was assaulted by the Kamuli District Health Officer( DHO) Aggrey Batezaki. He opened up a case of assault vide SD Ref. 25/22/4/2020.

The Kamuli District Police Commander (DPC) Madiri Ahmed confirmed the release to HRNJ-Uganda and said “in the morning he was given a bond at around 11:00 am. He was charged with giving false information which was not verified, spreading harmful propaganda, defamation and inciting the public”.

He revealed that Gwebayanga was arrested after the Kamuli Chief Administrative Officer Namanda Elizabeth lodged a complaint at Kamuli Central Police Station.

On 21st April 2020, New Vision published a story on page 24 alleging that the Kamuli District COVID-19 team had on Saturday 18th April 2020 disagreed on the allocation of 80m after the district technical team insisted that the money be distributed among the members of the COVID-19 task force.

“Journalists are the eyes and the ears of the public and their cardinal role is to keep the public informed. Holding public officials accountable should not be a crime against journalists,” Said the HRNJ-Uganda Executive Director, Robert Ssempala.

AFEX Welcomes  Zimbabwean High Court Ruling Barring Police from Arresting Journalists

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AFEX Welcomes  Zimbabwean High Court Ruling Barring Police from Arresting Journalists

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange has welcomed a recent ruling by a High Court in Zimbabwe on April 20, 2020, ordered the police and other law enforcement agencies charged with enforcing the COVID-19 lockdown not to arrest, detain or interfere “in any unnecessary way” with the work of journalists.

The ruling by the Zimbabwe High Court judge, Justice Manzunzu follows an urgent chamber application that was filed by AFEX member in Zimbabwe, MISA-Zimbabwe (first applicant), and journalist Panashe Makufa (second applicant), against the arrests and harassment of journalists by police officers during the lockdown. The Commissioner-General of Police and the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) were cited, respectively, as the first and second respondents in the application filed by the applicants’ lawyer Chris Mhike.

During the ruling, the trail judge, Justice Manzunzu said, “police officers and all other law enforcement agencies charged with the duty to implement the Coronavirus related lockdown are interdicted from arresting, detaining or interfering in any unnecessary way with the work of the 2nd applicant (Makufa) and members of 1stapplicant (MISA Zimbabwe) purely on the basis that their press cards issued in 2019 have expired.”

The Commissioner-General of Police and the ZMC were also ordered to ensure that the statement by ZMC on the validity of the 2019 press cards is communicated to all police stations in Zimbabwe within 12 hours from their receipt of the court order, as well as to appropriate commanding offices of any agents who might be assisting the Zimbabwe Republic Police in enforcing the law.

MISA Zimbabwe hopes that the interim relief order granted by the High Court will bring to an end the unlawful harassment and arrests of journalists which was on the rise, particularly during this lockdown period.

It noted the ruling as a victory for media practitioners and the right to media freedom in Zimbabwe as the court order should go a long way in entrenching the enjoyment of media freedom during the lockdown extension period and beyond. Indeed journalists are an essential service as they are critical in promoting access to information by citizens.

According to MISA Zimbabwe, the ruling also comes at a time when the government has since gazetted Statutory Instrument (SI) 93 of 2020 following the extension of the lockdown, which among other measures, also specifically highlights that communication and telecommunication services include the internet, journalists and newspaper vendors.

MISA Zimbabwe, therefore, reiterated that the media should be professional in conducting its lawful duties and ethical responsibilities in line with the profession’s codes and ethics while also being mindful of the profession’s safety and security measures.

This, the organisation hopes, will go a long way in ensuring that citizens access accurate, credible, verifiable and useful information about the pandemic and how they can prevent contamination and its spread in their various communities.

The Media and COVID-19 in West Africa (April 6 – April 12, 2020)

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The Media and COVID-19 in West Africa (April 6 – April 12, 2020)

This week the world began to see a glimmer of hope with the steady reductionin the number of COVID-19 infections in the worst hit regions. West Africa however, recorded a surge in its number of cases taking the region’s total count to 3,629 people infected with the virus.

As frontline workers exempted from the lockdown, media practitioners are increasingly being hit by the virus as seven journalists in Guinea Conakry tested positive to the coronavirus and are in quarantine.

Draconian measures implemented by some governments across the region to contain the pandemic are increasingly having a toll on the media as journalists’ rights are being infringed upon in some countries.

 In Sierra Leonne, a journalist for the Standards Times newspaper was assaulted by soldiers for taking pictures of a Covid-19 quarantine centre. A week earlier, a correspondent for the Leadership newspaper in Nigeria was attacked while reporting on the COVID-19. As a result of these increasing attacks, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) released a statement to caution security agencies from using the Coronavirus lockdown as an alibi to harass media practitioners.

As part of the measures to limit the spread of the virus, governments across the world are releasing prisoners who committed minor offences, or served most of their sentence. The aim of this approach is to decongest jails and allow prisoners to observe the social distancing measure. It is against this background that the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) joined Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and over 81 media organisations to call on governments including those of Nigeria and Benin to release journalists currently in Jail.

As the lockdowns imposed by governments are beginning to influence citizens way of life, and have disrupted several activities including formal education, the government of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana partnered with the media organisations to provide on Television classes to students during the lockdown period.

MISA Zimbabwe Files Court Application to Protest Harassment of Journalists by Police

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MISA Zimbabwe Files Court Application to Protest Harassment of Journalists by Police

MISA Zimbabwe has filed an urgent chamber application with the High Court seeking an order interdicting police officers and other law enforcement agents responsible for implementing the COVID-19 lockdown from interfering with the work of journalists on the basis that their press cards were issued in 2019.

In the application filed by lawyer Chris Mhike, MISA Zimbabwe is the first applicant while journalist Panashe Makufa is the second applicant. Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), are cited as first and second respondents, respectively.

According to the applicants, any and all acts of interference with the journalistic work of the second applicant (Makufa), and members of the first applicant (MISA Zimbabwe), without due process or on account of the status of their accreditation during the current lockdown is a violation of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media as enshrined in Sections 61 and 62 of the Constitution.

The respondents should also be ordered to ensure that the ZMC’s statement about the validity of the 2019 press cards is communicated to all police stations in Zimbabwe.

The statement should also be issued to all “appropriate commanding officers” of any agents who might be assisting the Zimbabwe Republic Police in enforcing the law within 12 hours after handing down of the order being sought.

In addition, the respondents should also be ordered to take “all necessary measures” for the protection of the media. They should also disclose “precisely” how they are going to shield MISA Zimbabwe’s members and other media personnel, from harassment during the lockdown.

Meanwhile, the applicants contend that the respondents’ interventions and efforts to protect journalists during the COVID-19 lockdown from “the hazards in the field” have not been adequate, thereby necessitating additional safeguards from the courts.

“If the court does not intervene at this stage of the lockdown, for the protection of the media, the plight of journalists and other media workers, could rapidly deteriorate,” reads part of the application.

MISA Zimbabwe has since the onset of the lockdown, received nine (9) “perturbing reports” on the arrest, harassment or assault of journalists and newspaper vendors in different parts of the country.

Five of the incidents relate to journalists while four pertain to newspaper vendors who play a critical role in the distribution of media products.

Nigeria: IPC Flays Continuing Attacks on Journalists and the Media

Vivian
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Nigeria: IPC Flays Continuing Attacks on Journalists and the Media

The International Press Centre, Lagos has again decried the rising spate of assaults on journalists and the media by law enforcement and security agents seeking to enforce the Covid-19 lockdown across the country.

Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said in a statement today that while such harassment represents the violation of the rights of the concerned journalists, they could be detrimental to the health of the public as the role of the media during the on-going pandemic is to provide credible information that would enable the citizens to stay well informed and take decisions that enhance their safety.

According to Mr. Arogundade, the latest of such incidents was the Police raid on the secretariat of the Adamawa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Yola during which the State Chairman of the Council, Mr. Donald Dedan was molested and others arrested according to a report by Fombina Times, dated April 2, 2020.

“Even if the policemen were of the opinion that the journalists were contravening any lawful order of the state government, the appropriate thing would have been to present a warrant of arrest or in the absence of that politely request the journalists to report at the police station. But resorting to jungle justice including beating with sticks and gun butts was an uncivilised and wrongful approach to enforcing law and order”, Mr. Arogundade said.

The IPC Executive Director recalled how officials of the Delta State Task Force on Environment also attacked the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Mr Michael Ikeogwu, as well as the Correspondent of the Daily Post, Mr. Mathew Omonigho, who reportedly had his Nikon D3100 camera destroyed, according to a report by the Nigerian Tribune dated April 1, 2020.

The  report stated that the duo were in Otiotio Street, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state to monitor the stay-at-home order by the government as a measure taken to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state when the incident occurred.

Mr. Arogundade said that while all legitimate efforts at combating Covid-19 were welcome, the law enforcement and security agencies should understand that the safety of journalists is one of their responsibilities.

“Anything to the contrary would constitute unacceptable assault on democratic principles”, he added.

Mr. Arogundade therefore called on heads of security agencies to sensitise their men and officers on best practices in relating with the media during crisis situations.

SGD

Stella Nwofia

Program Manager
Tel: 234-(0)8020359629, 08063810424
Email: stellanwofia[@]ipcng.org, stellanwofia[@]gmail.com, stellanwofia[@]yahoo.com
International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria
IPC is Nigeria’s foremost media capacity development organization.
www.ipcng.org  l  www.twitter.com/IPCng  l www.facebook.com/ipc.nigeria  l  www.youtube.com/ipcng  l  Google+ : IpcNg

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