Mozambique: Journalist sentenced to jail for libel will appeal court’s decision

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Mozambique: Journalist sentenced to jail for libel will appeal court’s decision

1:51 CAT | 31 Jan 2020

José Nhane (standing) during the reading of the sentence. [Photo: DW]

Mozambican journalist José Nhame is going to appeal his prison sentence for libel and slander, and says he will not be intimidated but will continue to report cases of corruption and mismanagement.

On January 23, José Nhane was sentenced to one year and two months in prison and a fine of 65,000 meticais (€935 euros) for defaming Dondo mayor Manuel Chaparica. He was also sentenced to pay all the procedural expenses. He was acquitted of charges brought by former administrator Correia.

José Nhane is a contributor to the weekly Zambeze, published in Sofala province. The journalist denounced alleged corruption in a report that was later shared by various groups on the Whatsapp platform, until it reached the ears of the plaintiffs.

Mayor Manuel Chaparica thinks that the penalty, although fair, does not restore his tainted reputation.

“Given the time the whole process has taken, the penalty should be higher than what we have seen,” and “I think my image is harmed, and it deserves to be reinstated,” he said.

Dondom — *Manuel Chaparica finds the sentence fair*

Nhane will not give up

In the journalist’s view, the Attorney General’s Office and the court performed poorly, and showed signs of acting under duress. “For me, there was no justice. The court gave priority to the mayor as president [of the Municipality]. After all, is justice done in favour of the leaders?” he asks.

“Some of my anonymous sources are employees of the Dondo City Council. It wouldn’t have cost the prosecutor anything to listen to the employees.”

Nhane says intimidation will not stop him reporting cases of mismanagement and corruption. “I feel threatened, but I will not give up, I will not stop here,” he says, promising that he will continue “to publish [articles on] issues of mismanagement, corruption, embezzlement – anything to do with illegality in Dondo municipality”.

Source: Deutsche Welle