Mozambican journalist gets death threats

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Mozambican journalist gets death threats

7:29 CAT | 19 Dec 2016

DW (File photo)

Fearing for his life, John Chekwa has deserted his home and his whereabouts are unknown. His children have been beaten and kidnapped. The coordinator of the Community Radio of Catandica is accused of being responsible for the defeat of Frelimo.

This is just another case of threats to the freedom of expression in Mozambique. John Chekwa told DW Africa that armed men allegedly from the Defence and Security Forces recently raided his home and beat two of his sons. Another son was kidnapped and later released elsewhere in the village of Catandica, central Manica province.

The journalist’s kidnapped son said that were more people, allegedly members or supporters of Renamo, the largest opposition party, who were also kidnapped in the district of Barué in the same vehicle.

The kidnapping “was an attempt to end my life”, said Chekwa. “They failed, but I still feel very threatened,” the Mozambican journalist says. He has sought refuge outside Catandica for fear of further incidents.

Attempts to contact the police in the Barué district were unsuccessful. The district commander of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique in Barué promised to issue a statement in due course.

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Uncomfortable voice

John Chekwa, who is also a civil society facilitator, has no doubts about what is behind the threats. “I am sure that this is all the result of my work, especially in the defence of the public cause, social justice and good governance.”

He explains: “I am considered responsible for the defeat of Frelimo [Liberation Front of Mozambique] in Barué, in Manica province,” the journalist and Catandica community radio coordinator explains.

John Chekwa has invited people quite critical to the governance of Frelimo onto the programme. Catandica Community Radio and its coordinator are also accused of being responsible over the last three years for the downfall of the administrator, the permanent secretary and the first secretary of Frelimo in the district of Catandica, after the journalist uncovered a 2013 the scheme for diverting state funds to finance Frelimo’s election campaign.

John Chekwa and Catandica Community Radio thereby came to be seen as aligned with the opposition, and the journalist went onto the so-called “death squads'” list of targets, the Social Communication Institute for Southern Africa, MISA-Mozambique, explains.

A MISA-Mozambique statement released on December 8 said that “vandalism, theft of property, torture of children and death threats to journalists are serious acts that violate the right to freedom of the press and expression”.

In the document, the organisation asks the government and justice bodies to “take, not only these, but all attempts to violate the freedom of the press and of expression in the country seriously”. MISA-Mozambique also appeals to the police and the Attorney General’s Office to investigate, identify and hold accountable the perpetrators.

Source: Deutsche Welle