Mozambique: Jeremias Langa is the new chairperson of MISA Regional

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Jeremias Langa is the new chairperson of MISA Regional

1:02 CAT | 30 Oct 2024

FILE - Jeremias Langa is the chairperson of MISA Moçambique. [File photo: MISA Moçambique]

Jeremias Langa is the new Regional Governing Council chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). Langa took office about seven months after being appointed, last May, as a member and vice-chairperson of the same body.

Langa took office at the institution this Monday, replacing the Zimbabwean, Golden Maunganidze, chairperson of MISA Malawi, and will be assisted by Matonga as vice-president, with Tanzanian Salame Kitomari (of MISA Tanzania) as treasurer.

“It is a feeling of gratitude”

Jeremias Langa said that he took office with “a feeling of gratitude”, seeing his appointment as a sign that “our partners in the region recognize the work we are doing in Mozambique in favour of freedom of expression and of the press”. For Langa, it is also an honour for the country itself, because “this is the first time that we have taken on such an important role”.

As for the work ahead, the new chairperson signals out as one of the main priorities the installation and consolidation of the organisation as an advocacy platform for freedoms in all countries in the region, and gives one of the most current examples.

“We are in the final phase of reinstalling MISA Angola, work that has been led by MISA Mozambique,” says Langa. “We want MISA to once again have the strength that characterised it when it was founded.”

Regarding what can be expected from MISA Regional in a context of violations of freedom of the press and expression, such as those ongoing in Mozambique, Langa points to dialogue as one of the ways out.

“Unfortunately, our work is downstream of democratic processes,” Langa says. “The more the political and democratic environment deteriorates, the more citizens’ rights are affected, but we will not give up, we will continue to do our advocacy work. Our work is based on ongoing dialogue with institutions such as the government, the Assembly of the Republic and the ombudsman, among other important stakeholders for the materialization of fundamental rights.”

Source: O País