Press: Rádio Encontro complains of sabotage during Nampula by-election campaign

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Press: Rádio Encontro complains of sabotage during Nampula by-election campaign

1:42 CAT | 15 Mar 2018

DW / Radio Encontro in Nampula

An unidentified radio station has usurped the frequency used by the Catholic Church radio station Radio Encontro in Nampula, with the broadcaster in no doubt that the manoeuvre was intended to silence it during the recent election.

According to Rádio Encontro, the sabotage has been ongoing for four days. Deputy Director Cantífula de Castro is in no doubt that it was an attempt to silence the broadcaster, but left its online platform as an alternative to continue informing the public on the process of choosing the municipality’s new mayor.

Radio Encontro has vowed to file a complaint as soon as the election is over.

This is the second attack that the radio, a partner of DW Africa in Mozambique, has suffered in less than two months. During the first round of the by- election in January, the station was threatened by high-ranking members of the ruling party, Frelimo.

We spoke to Cantífula de Castro, deputy director of the station.

Mosambik CantÃfula de Castro — *Benvindo Tapua (left) and Cantífula de Castro, priests and Rádio Encontro officials*

DW Africa: Can you confirm that another radio has been usurping your frequency?

Cantífula de Castro (CC): It’s a fact. Our 101.9 FM channel has been hacked. By whom we do not know. Because it is a broadcast that only transmits and plays varied songs. Nothing is said – you only hear music. Three days have already passed, and today is the fourth day like this. We thought it was a problem with the equipment, but it’s still carrying on. After much work by our technicians, we still haven’t overcome the problem.

DW Africa: Is Radio Encontro still under pressure from Frelimo in Nampula province?

CC: In this second round, the pressure has been silent, I would say. It is different from the first round, in which there were verbal statements, exchanges of words and threats from one side to another. But this time, the threat is greater, in that they jammed our emission signal, which is a major concern for us. So much so that listeners cannot easily pick up our signal. So our listeners also suffer from this new interference.

Zwischenwahl in Nampula, Mosambik (DW/S. Lutxeque) — *Second round of the Nampula by-election*

DW Africa: Do you think this situation is sabotage in order to silence the Radio Encontro in the particular context of these elections?

CC: We have no doubt that it is a sabotage because of the work we have been doing, which has been seen as a threat by many who consider themselves power-holders. This can be seen as a means of carrying out their attempts, of using all possible means to seize power here in Nampula at all costs, as they said they would.

DW Africa: As a result of the intimidation that Radio Encontro suffered earlier this year, it submitted a complaint to MISA (Southern African Social Communication Institute) and to FORCOM (National Forum of Community Radio). Have these two organisations initiated any process to clarify the subject?

CC: MISA in Nampula issued a statement repudiating this situation, but FORCOM did not issue any official document. But the situation has been reported to the two institutions that monitor the media in Mozambique and here in Nampula in particular.

DW Africa: Has a complaint been made to the Information Office (GABINFO) regarding this alleged sabotage?

CC: Not yet. Unfortunately we cannot do this, because all the institutions in Nampula are at a standstill. All the attention is focused on the election. We expect tomorrow, when public institutions go back to work, to regularise the situation here at Radio Encontro.

DW Africa: And how does Radio Encontro expect to report the electoral process to its audience?

CC: For now, we are reporting two alternative ways. Firstly, we are using online transmission – our broadcasts are available to anyone via our online platform and on our website and Facebook. And it is also possible to pick up our transmissions on 101.9 FM sometimes, but listeners need to reposition their radios, and it is still difficult to tune in.

Source: Deutsche Welle