Africa: Shamu calls for media freedom

Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu has called for media freedom in Africa so that journalists can discharge their duties without fear of victimisation by authorities. Addressing delegates at a dinner hosted by his ministry for the Federation of African Journalists in Harare on Sunday, Minister Shamu said journalists should not be arrested for being critical of governments.

"Journalists should not be arrested for telling the truth and being constructively critical.

"But we are not saying they should not be arrested for lawlessness. Harassment of journalists should stop to enable them to deliver their duties smoothly," he said.

Minister Shamu, however, said most journalists were deceived to believe that good journalism was undermining national interests and criticising governments and heads of state.

He challenged African journalists to take up the challenge of shaping the continent’s destiny without influence from Western media imperialists.

Minister Shamu said any outside interference in the media industry by Western countries should be on equal footing to ensure equality between African and Western journalism.

"As African people, we are responsible for shaping our destiny.

"The agenda of African journalism is to underscore the fact that yesteryear attitude that we cannot do anything without making reference to Europe is gone.

"We are not refusing to share ideas, but we are saying that should be done on equal basis," Minister Shamu said.

African media practitioners, Minister Shamu said, made a mistake by allowing Western media to set the agenda in all areas of life such as the economy, culture and social life.

He said FAJ should self-introspect to measure the strides made by the continent in developing African journalism.

Minister Shamu said the resolutions made at the just-ended FAJ second congress should put into focus the spirit of pan-Africanism.

He said African journalists should be wary of Western imperialistic forces that might use them to fight political battles as propaganda instruments against their kith and kin.

The core business of African journalists should be that of educating and informing societies to spur unification.

FAJ was formed at a congress in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2007 with the theme of "Building a Strong and United Voice for African Journalists".

The continental media body has representation in more than 30 countries.

The federation began its work with a scathing attack on countries they accuse of denying journalists media rights, which they said should be condemned by the African Union.

- March 30, 2010 by The Herald (published by the Zimbabwean government)

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Source: www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx (accessed on 30.03.10)