IFJ Africa NewsLetter

Vol. 5 No.1 January – March 2008

In this Issue

EAJA Holds Leadership Seminar

Central Africa Journalists Form USYPAC

SAJA Launches JUMA

UJU Holds TOT for Journalists Leaders

NUSOJ Adopts New Strategies                                   

IMS, IFJ, INSI, Article 19 Support Kenyan Media

Burkina Holds Decriminalisation Seminar

Lesotho Launches JAL

GPU Elects New Executive

By Moise Gahungu

 

T

he Eastern Africa Journalists Association EAJA in collaboration with the IFJ held a Trade Union Leadership Seminar for the journalists’ unions and association in Eastern Africa, in Kampala, Uganda from January 16-17, 2008. The workshop concluded with a plan of action and set activities to be implemented in the region.

 

Cont. on page 3

 

E

ditorial

Africa MUST Decriminalise Libel Laws

F

 

2.

Central African Journalists form USYPAC

 

Journalists unions from Cameroon, Chad, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo Brazzaville organised a regional Collective Bargaining workshop in Brazzaville from December 24-27, 2007. The workshop was held with the support of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in collaboration with the IFJ Africa Office.

 

The workshop trained 25 participants from Cameroon, Chad, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo Brazzaville. The workshop was facilitated by the IFJ, with IFJ representatives participating in the session with the trainer, Abdul Aziz Bathily from Senegal.

 

At the end of the workshop the journalists’ unions’ representatives adopted the Constitution of the Union des Syndicats des Professionnels de la Presse d’Afrique Centrale (USYPAC) as a sub regional association of journalists unions. USYPAC is set to be the major force in enforcing trade union development in the media industry in Central Africa, addressing professional and social matters as well as protecting and defending press freedom for media workers.

 

EAJA Leadership Seminar

 

Cont. from pg 1

 

The workshop also addressed challenges to freedom of expression and of the press and trade union rights in Eastern Africa, and explored strategies to overcome those challenges.

 

Leaders representing journalists’ unions and associations from Burundi, Djibouti, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Somalia discussed the role of trade unions in a democratic government, organizing journalists, freedom of association particularly the right to organize, safety and security of journalists, country specific issues, media laws in the region and gender equality in the media industry.

 

In a Declaration adopted at the end of the workshop, the leaders demanded "An immediate end to all violations and abuses against freedom of expression and of the press, working rights of journalists and infringements of women journalists’ rights".

 

 

3.

SAJA launches Journalists’ Union in Malawi

 

By Sangwani Mwafulirwa

 

After ten years of waiting, Malawi journalists now have a union that will defend the interest, welfare and trade union rights of it members and join the Southern Africa Journalists’ Association, SAJA.

 

The Journalists Union of Malawi (JUMA) was formally established during a congress held in the capital, Blantyre, on December 21, 2007. During the congress which was held with financial assistance from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and a local copyright watchdog, Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA), the journalists elected office bearers to run the affairs of the union for the next two years.

 

In his opening speech at the congress, MISA Malawi Chairperson, Martines Namingha, heralded the formation of JUMA as it would enhance specialisation among media bodies in the country. Namingha said in the absence of JUMA, the MISA Malawi chapter had been flooded with complaints from journalists which fell beyond its scope as some complaints bordered on labour issues.

 

"I should admit here that it has been difficult for us to intervene in some cases that were brought to our attention as they bordered on industrial relations. In such cases we were deemed as inefficient but I am sorry there is nothing we could have done. Now I am happy because JUMA will fill the gap," he said.

 

Namingha challenged the new committee to build a reputation for the organisation and learn from past mistakes where a similar organisation, JAMA died.

 

 

The chairperson of the Southern Africa Journalists Association (SAJA), Foster Dongozi, observed that journalists had failed to fit into regional structures like SADC because of lack of regional representation. He said it was because of this that the Southern Journalists Association (SAJA) was formed to give a unified voice for journalists in the SADC region and fight for their labour rights and better working conditions. Dongozi said that currently journalists were moving towards forming a broader organisation in Africa, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) which will strongly campaign for the inclusion of media programmes in all development programmes.

 

The participants at the congress later adopted the draft constitution for JUMA. Veteran journalist and media trainer, Levi Zeleza Manda, was elected unopposed as Chairperson; Rebecca Chimjeka elected as Vice Chairperson; Maganizo Mazeze as Secretary General; Patricia Kapulula, Frank Jomo and Harnet Msukwa were elected as Committee members of the JUMA executive.

 

4.

UJU Holds TOT for Journalists Leaders 

By Stephen Ouma Bwire

The Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) held a Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop for national leaders from January 24 – 26, 2008 at Seeta Ridah Hotel, in Kampala. Participants at the TOT included UJU top Executive Committee members, Regional Coordinators and shop stewards from the main media houses in the country as well as labour and gender officials from the government ministries.

The workshop, which addressed issues covering unionism, Workplace organization, recruitment skills, gender and the plight of freelance journalists, also dilated on issues concerning employment contracts and the continued exploitation of journalists by some media houses.

In presenting a paper on Labour Laws in Uganda, Bernard Amuriat, an official of the Gender and Social Development Ministry, stated that a good number of journalists in Uganda are still ignorant of their labour rights, making it easier for them to be exploited by their employers.

Amuriat warned that journalists, especially the young ones entering the profession should ensure that they are always issued with an employment contract, which is provided for by the 2006 Labour Union Act. "The New Ugandan Labour Law provides that all employees whether casual, temporary or established staff must sign written contracts binding them to an organization."

 

Some of the participants at the TOT in Kampala

 

Reflecting on the situation of freelance journalists, Amuriat said that their situation should not bar them from signing some form of contract, in order to minimize exploitation by some employers.

In a resolution adopted at the training workshop, the UJU committed itself to sensitise both employers and journalists on the new labour laws as well as conducting a national labour survey on the working conditions of journalists. The resolution also called for the strengthening of the Gender Council in order to encourage more female journalists to participate in the activities of the UJU. The workshop was supported by the IFJ through the LO-TCO project. 

5. NUSOJ Adopts New Strategies to Combat Challenges

By Moise Gahungu

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) in collaboration with the American Centre for International Labour Solidarity (Solidarity Centre) held a four – day Strategic Planning and Leadership Workshop for members of NUSOJ Supreme Council from January 25 - 28 2008 in Djibouti.

 The workshop was held at a crucial time for NUSOJ leaders and members who witnessed the highest rate of journalist deaths registered in Africa in 2007 and the second highest rate in the world after Iraq.

 NUSOJ leaders held intensive sessions during the four-day workshop which addressed challenges to professional safety, press freedom, rights and working conditions of journalists in Somalia as well as obstacles to freedom of association and weaknesses in the recently passed National Media Law.

 The NUSOJ leaders clarified the Union's vision, objectives and priorities for the coming two years. The leaders also outlined the implementation of the Strategic Plan, which details the action program, including specific activities.

 The NUSOJ Supreme Council, which consists of the Heads of the Regional Branches and Members of the Executive Committee, developed a two-year strategic plan aimed at combating the challenges faced by the union. Among the resolutions of the workshop were to promote cooperation through the framework of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) among journalist unions operating in conflict environments in order to share best practices.

 

6. IMS, IFJ, INSI, Article 19 Support Kenyan Media, KUJ

A wave of politically motivated violence was triggered, when the Electoral Commission of Kenya declared President Mwai Kibaki winner of the disputed December 2007 presidential election. At least 1,500 Kenyans were killed and more than 600,000 displaced by the crisis. The political situation increased pressure on the private media when all live radio and television broadcasts were suspended indefinitely. Pressure has since been constantly mounting - with journalists being arrested, others being shot at while covering the riots and a wave of death threats issued against journalists.

To this effect, the IMS coordinated a joint rapid response mission to Kenya, from February 10 – 16, 2008 in order to respond to the urgent needs for safety and conflict sensitive journalism training and to assess needs for a long term media safety strategy. The mission is a follow-up to a previous assessment mission in January and was carried out in cooperation with Article 19, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and International News Safety Institute (INSI) with support from the Editor’s Guild of Kenya and Kenyan Union of Journalists (KUJ).

The mission provided ‘on the ground’ safety training in three locations in Kenya (Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu) as well as undertook a series of conflict conscious journalism courses. The mission also held a round table debate with key stakeholders to assess the needs for a long term media safety strategy in support of the national media.

Cont. on page 8

 

 

7. Burkina holds Seminar on Decriminalisation of Press Laws

 

The Maison de Presse in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa held a three –day Seminar on the "Decriminalization of Press Offence Laws" in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, from February 27 – 29, 2008.

 

The Seminar which brought participants from the sixteen countries of the West African sub-region dilated on the urgent need to decriminalize all forms of press offence laws in order to allow the media to perform its functions effectively without any form of intimidation in relation to defamation charges.

 

In presenting a paper on the Decriminalisation of Libel and all forms of Defamation Laws in West Africa, IFJ Programme Officer, Pa Louis Thomasi, stated that West Africa in particular have been inundated with obnoxious libel laws that are entirely designed to intimidate the media and to clip its wings in order to stave the populace from the truth that is often shrouded by the dark veils of corruption within governments.

 

He added that "criminal defamation" laws continue to constitute a grave restriction on the freedom of expression and of the press. Even in the so called democratic states like Senegal and Nigeria, where the media is said to be very vibrant, traces of these unjustified laws continued to surface.

 

Thomasi reaffirmed IFJ’s commitment to oppose all forms of defamation laws that are designed to render the media ineffective, and without doubt institute a grave restriction on the freedom of expression and of the press. The IFJ, he said, firmly believes that the only way forward for the continent in this regard, is for the total eradication of all defamation and seditious laws.

The IFJ reaffirms its unflinching support to all efforts in the continent that are aimed at repealing criminal defamation. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the role of the media to hold governments and civil servants accountable is not eroded by the creation of obnoxious legislations."

At the end of the seminar, the participants committed themselves to sensitise journalists and editors in relations to the decriminalisation of libel, as well as to mobilise and lobby for support amongst human rights campaigners, civil society organisations and opinion leaders for the decriminalisation of libel.

The Seminar also adopted the Declaration of Ouagadougou, which calls for the Decriminalisation of all forms of Press Offence Laws in the ECOWAS sub- region and Mauritania.

8.

New Journalists’ Association launch in Lesotho

By Mzi Memeza

A new journalists association, the Journalists Association of Lesotho, (JAL) was launched on February 28, 2008 in Maseru, Lesotho.

 

In his address to journalists and media representatives at the launching, the Regional Chairperson of the Media Institute of South Africa, (MISA) Thabo Thakalekoala, said that he felt very honoured and privileged to officiate in the launch of the association as journalists in Lesotho had for a long time been unable to form a union that will defend their interest.

 

Cont. on Page 7

New Journalists’ Association

 

Cont. from Page 6

 

This untenable situation, he said, has led various governments in Lesotho to shamelessly trample upon the rights of journalists and media workers". Thakalekoala emphasised the indivisibility of the freedom of the press and stressed that access to information is a fundamental human right.

 

 

 

 

Participants at the Launching in Lesotho

 

Thakalekoala also pointed out that repression of journalists by some SADC governments, including Lesotho, is on the rise. This, he said, can be seen in the types of laws in operation in these countries, which still carry the legacy of the colonial era. He called for the decriminalization of all libel and defamation laws in Lesotho and the entire SADC region.

 

After the presentations a new Executive was elected. Mr. Khutliso Sekoati of Public Eye newspaper was elected President; Mrs. Marafaele Mohloboli a reporter at Intelserv was elected Deputy President. Other participants elected into the Executive include: Mrs. Falla Leisanyane of People’s Choice Radio Station as Gender Coordinator while Motheolane Chakela of Lesotho News Agency (LENA) Zanele Hlongwane of Harvest Radio Station were elected as executive committee members.

JAL has outlined as it main priorities, the development of a recruitment strategy and the mobilization of journalists in both the private and public media; campaign for the recognition of Journalists and their work and to improve journalists working conditions; and the campaign for the repeal of media unfriendly laws in Lesotho.

 

The launching was supported by the IFJ and facilitated by the Secretary General of South African Journalists Association (SAJA), Mzi Memeza and SAJA President, Mr. Foster Dongozi.

 

9. GPU Elects New Executive, Female President

 

Gambia Press Union GPU on Saturday, March 22, 2008 elected a new executive into office to take charge of the affairs of the union for the next three years.

 

Ndey Tapha Sosseh, former Secretary General, was elected President, replacing Madi Ceesay, who had served the Union as president for the past three years. Ndey Tapha is thus one of the few female presidents of IFJ affiliates in the continent.

 

 

 

Ndey Tapha Sosseh GPU President-The Gambia

 

Other elected members include: Sarata Jabbi Dibba as 1^{st Vice President; Modou Nyang as 2nd Vice President; Emil Touray as Secretary General; Lamin Njie – 1st Assitsant Secretary General; Madi Njie as 2nd Assistant Secretary General; Pa Modou Faal as Treasurer; Buya Jammeh and Amie Sanneh as Co-opted members.}

 

In her acceptance speech Ndey Tapha Sosseh expressed that her first task would be to bridge the gap of misunderstanding between the government and the GPU. She promised that there will be no camps within the GPU and called on all members to work together for the betterment of the union.

 

 

 

IMS, IFJ, INSI, Article 19 Support

 

Cont. from page 5

 

During the joint mission, there was a "Roundtable" on "The Kenyan Media Under Pressure". The Editors’ Guild and the KUJ were the major local partners of the roundtable. The findings of the roundtable identified among the burning issues: the safety of journalists, the poor conditions of service of reporters, and the need to strengthen the KUJ.

 

Recommendations from the Roundtable were centered on journalists’ union building, collective bargaining, and self regulation to address corruption in the media.

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

MALARIA CONSORTIUM AND THE GUARDIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT JOURNALISM COMPETITION

Malaria Consortium (MC), the leading malaria non-governmental organisation in Europe, is teaming up with The Guardian newspaper and seven other organisations to launch a unique journalism competition

.

The Guardian International Development Journalism Competition was launched on March 11, 2008 with the financial support of

the Department for International Development (DFID).

Douglas Alexander, International Development Secretary, says he is looking forward to this competition motivating a new generation of journalists that want to write about some of the most important global issues facing the developing world today.

"They will play a key role in helping to raise awareness and understanding among the UK public of the complexity of development issues, explaining how people are connected with people living on the other side of the globe," said the Secretary of State, "and, crucially, encouraging us all to play a part in reducing global poverty. I encourage aspiring journalists to come forward and take part in this exciting competition."

"Malaria Consortium is proud to be involved in this new and exciting competition together with DFID and The Guardian," said Sunil Mehra, MC Executive Director. "By involving journalists, this project will represent an important platform to increase awareness, commitment and support for international efforts to reduce poverty, tackle communicable diseases such as HIV and malaria and ultimately the promotion of the Millennium Development Goals."

The other NGO partners in the project are Camfed International, HelpAge International, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Marie Stopes International, Plan UK, Sightsavers International and WaterAid.

For more details of the competition, visit www.guardian.co.uk/developmentcompetition. The deadline for entries is 6th May 2008.

For more information about Malaria Consortium's involvement, go to

http://www.malariaconsortium.org/pages/guardiandevelopmentcompetition.html

Contact: Delphine Valette, International Advocacy Coordinator at Malaria Consortium

Tel: 020 7549 0218 Email:

d.valette@malariaconsortium.org

Up Coming Events

 

reedom of Expression is a fundamental human right. Apart from the "Right to Life" there is no other right in the groups of rights that is more significant than the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas. Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights guarantees the freedom of expression. Likewise, other international conventions like the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also guarantees the freedom of expression. In Africa, all the countries (probably with the exception of Morocco) have signed and ratified the African Charter, thus taking a commitment to uphold the principles of the Charter.

Moreover, the majority of the governments in the continent, have also gone ahead to reflect this fundamental principle in most of their national constitutions.

Despite these developments, the concept of a free and independent press in reality continues to be illusive in the continent. African Governments have continued to employ various factors that are specifically designed to hinder the freedom of expression and of the press. African governments in general have often legislated very draconian measures in order to intimidate the press.

 

Such arbitrary measures include, the charging of exorbitant license fees for media house, registration of journalists, obnoxious libel and defamation laws, the levy of heavy importation taxes on media related materials and equipment, arbitrary arrests and jailing of journalists.

Cont. on page 2

 

Editorial

Cont. from pg 1

 

Of all the measures employed by governments in the continent, defamation laws, most especially libel continue to be the greatest stumbling block for journalists in the continent.

 

Despite the emergence and growth of various media houses in the sub-region, "criminal defamation" laws continue to constitute a grave restriction on the freedom of expression and of the press. Even in the so called democratic states where the media is said to be very vibrant, traces of these unjustified laws continued to surface, despite the fact that it has been universally acclaimed that the freedom of expression and of the press in general, constitute the very corner stone of a democratic state. Hence, press freedom is an essential and fundamental freedom.

 

The recent disgraceful events in Niger, in relation to the Moussa Kaka incident are a serious cause for concern. Moussa Kaka, Niger correspondent of Radio France International (RFI) and director of privately-owned radio station, Radio Saraouniya, was arrested on 20 September 2007, by police officers and charged with involvement in a plot against the state's authority" for suspected links with the Tuareg-led rebels of Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ). The authorities have been tapping Kaka’s telephone conversations with MNJ members.

 

On November 16, 2007 a magistrate decided not to accept as evidence the tapes of Kaka’s conversations with the rebels as they were not obtained legally.
"This was the only evidence the prosecution had in its case. However, Moussa still remains in custody.

 

The IFJ continues to call on the Government of Niger, for the immediate and unconditional release of Moussa Kaka and all other journalists in Niger who have been arrested and detained or jail under libel charges and the publication of "false news".

 

It is the ardent believe of the IFJ that no journalists should be imprisoned because of his/her work in relation to defamation offences. Defamation is not a criminal offence. It is absolutely unacceptable to codify libel under the press laws as a criminal offence.

 

This is why, IFJ in collaboration with other media organization in the continent have continuously advocated for the decriminalisation of all defamation laws, sedition and the creeping "insult laws" that are being utilized gradually by some governments in the continent.

 

African Governments MUST realise that the existence of an independent, strong and free press, which is capable of monitoring public institutions to ensure accountability and transparency, " remains essential to the establishment of good governance as well as economic, political social and cultural development.

 

Africa therefore MUST decriminalise all Libel Laws.