Mozambique: Computers stolen from Beira radio – AIM report

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Mozambique: Computers stolen from Beira radio – AIM report

4:14 CAT | 12 Jul 2022

Image: MISA Mozambique

Unknown assailants on Thursday broke into the offices in the central Mozambican city of Beira of the catholic radio station, Radio Pax, and stole computer equipment.

According to a release from the Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom body MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa), the thieves stole five desktop and one laptop computer, and a printer. They also took 4,500 meticais (about 70 US dollars, at the current exchange rate). The equipment was in the newsroom and the administrative sector of the radio station.

The director of Radio Pax, Jose Suade, told MISA he has no idea who carried out the break-in, which happened when he was on holiday in Mussorize district, in the neighbouring province of Manica.

Suade said he had informed the police. The theft is limiting the radio’s operations, although the newsroom “is functioning with alternative resources”.

This is the second theft of equipment from Radio Pax in less than a year. In the first half of this year, a desktop computer disappeared. The Sofala Provincial Attorney’s office was informed, but the case was never cleared up.

MISA-Mozambique says it condemns this and any act of theft from any of the media. Such thefts, says the MISA release, “interfere with the full functioning of the media, and reduce their ability to produce and transmit journalistic content, thus depriving citizens of the right to information”.

MISA believes that, regardless of the motive of the theft, the theft of the radio’s property “is a threat to the construction of the democratic rule of law, enshrined in the Mozambican constitution”.

MISA called on the government authorities in Sofala province to ensure that this crime is solved, so that others of the sort do not happen again.

Source: AIM