Mozambique: Head of State visits cyclone Chido-affected areas
Mozambique: Govt. imposes massive fees on reporters, media companies
4:50 CAT | 08 Aug 2018
File photo: Lusa /António Silva
Mozambique’s government is going to charge foreign reporters 500,000 meticals (€7,469) to be accredited or to renew their accreditation under a new law that is drawing severe criticism from the industry.
The Southern African Press Institute said the fees are “a vile attack on the freedom of the press and free speech” in Mozambique.
The law also imposes a 200,000 metical (€2,985) fee for domestic journalists working for foreign press organisations.
Foreign freelancers will have to pay 150,000 meticals (€2,239) and domestic freelancers 30,000 meticals (€447).
There are also hefty fees to TV and radio stations.
The vice-president of the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA), Fernando Lima, said the new fees were shocking and criticised the government for not talking about the matter and for imposing the fees unilaterally.
Media licencing fees a ‘blatant attack on press freedom’ in Mozambique https://t.co/KrKyVTQMf0
International press freedom organisations condemn “unwarranted and unprecedented fees” that raise fears of crackdown on press freedom
— Zitamar News (@ZitamarNews) August 8, 2018
Foreign correspondents must pay $2 500 for the privilege of reporting from Mozambique, according to draconian new media regulations. Journalists and civil society are outraged. https://t.co/goUERhgkUe
— Mail & Guardian (@mailandguardian) August 8, 2018
Still can’t get over how blatant this is. To give a bit of context, my annual accreditation in Angola (itself regarded as fairly cumbersome) is $250. https://t.co/XGJV8snRbG
— Stephen Eisenhammer (@SEisenhammer) August 8, 2018
“There is no justification for a community radio fee to increase 100,000%, except for the fact that the government wants to close it down.”
This is outrageous and all donors to Mozambique must seriously reconsider their aid until it is stopped. https://t.co/JNsGb8Bo5P
— Ruth Maclean (@ruthmaclean) August 8, 2018
If Mozambique’s government thinks this will put the FT off coverage, it’s mistaken – but this is still a real threat to having a strong media ecosystem in the country. https://t.co/IHf6xD3y2F
— Joseph Cotterill (@jsphctrl) August 8, 2018
Source: Lusa
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