The Shaky Ground of Press Freedom in Southern Africa
A concerning lack of media freedom, inadequate legal structures, precarious safety conditions as well as the alarming occurrences of journalist arrests and surveillance: a distressing image emerges from a report delving into the state of media in Southern Africa after the Covid-19 pandemic.
By John Masuku
The persistent erosion of media freedom continues to be a pressing challenge in Southern Africa despite the joint commitment made through the Windhoek +30 Declaration to protect media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information, according to a report published last May by the regional chapter of Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).
“Despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression in the majority of countries in the region the inconsistency and lack of political will to enforce these liberties have given rise to numerous incidents of censorship, self-censorship and constraints on free speech,” wrote Zoe Titus, director Namibia Media Trust.
According to Hlengiwe Dube, a prominent media scholar, significant threats to press freedom include the harassment faced by media practitioners, the inadequate protection provided to whistleblowers, the lack of sustainability within the media industry, and the alarming spread of information disorder facilitated by digital technologies.
Recent downturns have overshadowed the progress made towards enhancing press freedom, such as the implementation of the Social Communications Law in Mozambique, which aims to establish a dedicated monitoring body to ensure journalists uphold ethical standards in their work. Additionally, Lesotho has introduced a reporting pledge, compelling journalists to adhere to professional and ethical principles when reporting on elections.
Under relentless attacks
In many Southern African nations, the freedom of expression is significantly hindered by prevalent cultural norms that discourage the criticism of those in positions of power. Moreover, obstructive laws are used as tools against critical media outlets and investigative journalists. An example of this suppression can be seen in Eswatini, where Swaziland News faced severe consequences for daring to be too critical. Last year, Swaziland News was banned by Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini who labeled both the publication and its editor, Zweli Martin Dlamini, as “terrorist entities”.
The safety of journalists in the region is becoming increasingly endangered, posing a significant concern alongside legal measures.
In November 2022, the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI), identified Zimbabwe as having the highest number of press freedom violations (at least 12) in Southern Africa. In Angola reports of journalists being victimized, particularly for criticizing President Joao Lourenco, are abundant. Mozambique’s new communication law also poses challenges for journalists who wish to criticize the president. Meanwhile, in Malawi, the Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ), an outlet known for covering corruption-related stories, has become a target of harassment by law enforcement agents, with its website frequently being hacked. Former President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has privately ordered the prosecution of reporter Karyn Maughan, accusing her of disclosing his private medical records.
“We are witnessing an intensifying of crackdown on journalists, human rights activists, leaders of social movements, political activists and trade unionists who have exposed gross human rights violations, authoritarian tendencies, corruption, lack of service delivery and social justice issues,” Titus wrote.
The lead-up to the 2022 general elections in Angola and Lesotho has been marred by a series of attacks on journalists who were diligently covering campaign events.
Female journalists in particular face significant challenges in the industry as sexism remains prevalent and power dynamics between men and women continue to be highly unequal. The MISA report highlights the “rampant” gender violence experienced by women and children, attributing it to deeply ingrained patriarchal norms. Prominent media advocates, Molly Chimhanda, Kagure Gacheche, and Susan Makore stress the “devastating” impact of gender-based violence on women journalists. They argue that “women in male dominated professions must endure pervasive gender bias and stereotypes.”
In 2019, Faith Zaba, who then got appointed editor of Zimbabwe Independent, faced a barrage of criticism on Twitter. Detractors, hiding behind the anonymity of the social network, predicted the downfall of the publication under her leadership. “Sexual innuendo and connotations were thrown at me. My 27 years of experience and professionalism were thrown out of the window,” Zaba said.
The surveillance of online communications also emerged as a serious concern across the region. Journalist Queen Mosarwe wrote that police authorities in Botswana routinely confiscate reporters’ equipment, including mobile phones, cameras, and laptops, without any lawful justification.
In Namibia, where surveillance was generally not an issue, the government adopted new regulations that made it mandatory for SIM card registration to include biometrics and digital identity cards. In Zambia, eSwatini and Lesotho, cybersecurity legislation has granted the state the power to monitor citizens who are criticized in online articles under the pretext of protecting the right to privacy. As elections in Zimbabwe drew closer in August 2023, fears that the country’s Cyber and Data Protection Act was breached grew as the governing Zanu (PF) party kept sending unsolicited messages canvassing for citizens’ votes.
Disinformation exacerbates the problems, leading the government to tighten restrictions on online freedom of expression. Given the general lack of awareness and ability to identify and reject disinformation among the population, governments in the region have implemented a range of measures, including legal provisions, to combat what is commonly referred to as information disorder, according to Dube. “In Lesotho the cybercrime and computer-related Crimes Act has provisions that criminalize publication of fake news with a punishment of a fine or life imprisonment,” she wrote.
The Southern African region still lags behind when it comes to internet access, which remains a pipedream in many countries. In Zimbabwe, the Postal and Telecommunications Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) reported a 65.3% internet penetration rate in 2022. Datareportal reveals that in Zambia, only 28.5% of the total population had access to the internet during the same year. The high cost of internet connection remains a significant hurdle to overcome. Tanzania has taken steps to address this issue by prioritizing internet access and data affordability in its ICT policy, according to Elizabeth Riziki, a media executive. As a result, data from 2022 indicates a decrease in the price of one megabyte of data, reflecting the government’s efforts to make internet access more accessible.
Looking ahead: end impunity first
The media across Southern Africa faces new challenges that were unthinkable in the past such as surveillance, online bullying (particularly targeting female journalists) and a growing information disorder. In light of these challenges, the MISA report urges the prioritization of journalist safety and the creation of a conducive working environment. A first crucial step in achieving that is putting an end to impunity.
