OSISA - Media

Media programme

Wed, 18 Jan 2006 02:22:52 -0500

Vision

The OSISA media programme will act as a catalyst in the development of media through which all members of society have a voice, and thereby hold those in authority and power accountable to those they are supposed to serve.

Mission

OSISA media programme will endeavour to be a flexible, professional and transparent provider of financial, technical and advisory support to projects that:

Promote people’s right to communicate by providing marginalised members of society - in particular women and young people - access to and control of media

Media funding guidelines

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 04:05:09 -0500

Criteria for assessing projects

Within the OSISA media programme’s limited resources, support will be provided to initiatives that embrace one of more of the ‘Guiding Principles’ above, and which:

Meet a demonstrable need that is compatible with one or more of the above 'Guiding Principles'
Make a creative use of mass media – in particular radio and print – to meet such a need
Are part of a broader strategy aimed at achieving one or more of the above 'Guiding principles'

Botswana to develop local TV content

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:00:53 -0500

Botswana: Goodbye Bbc News,
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA

I'm very thrilled that BTV has temporarily cut or suspended the broadcasting of BBC news on our national channel. And my wish is for BTV to get rid of this world news service forever since the time slot which has been occupied by this monstrous programme can appropriately be channeled to accommodate more local content. Being the only national television station locally, Botswana Television (BTV), was established by an Act of Parliament in 1997. It was not until 31 July, 2000 that the station was launched as a public-funded station under the then Department of Information and Broadcasting Services.The prime reason for establishing BTV was the need to reinforce Botswana's identity and to provide the country with its own news and current affairs coverage ... Is that happening? Nope! Instead, we are bombarded with too much foreign content by the time our kids reach the ages of 40, they would have forgotten there used to be a country called Botswana ... Television should contribute to national development by showing achievements made by Batswana in economics, agriculture, culture and other socio-economic aspects, and not to broadcast programmes and content that influence and changes our thinking as Batswana ... The absence of a vibrant Botswana television station needs to be addressed as soon as possible, and what a better way to start than minimizing or totally scrapping off international programming ...

Threat to sue Beira daily newspaper

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:14:18 -0500

Mozambique: Threat to Sue Beira Daily Paper
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
The two members of the Elections Commission in the central Mozambican province of Sofala appointed by the former rebel movement Renamo, Lucas Zabica and Patreque Chicamisse, have promised to sue the Beira daily paper "Diario de Mocambique" for libel over claims that they had used a Beira City Council vehicle for "clandestine" electoral

Kandetu explains NBC's case

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:42:48 -0500

Namibia: Kandetu Explains NBC's Case
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
The Director-General of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Bob Kandetu has reacted to criticism that the institution favours certain social and political formations that allegedly get more airtime. Speaking at NBC Oshakati, Kandetu said at independence Namibia made a number of undertakings, central of which was to draw a circle that excludes no one who wanted to stay in Namibia and was desirous to participate in the reconstruction of the nation state and reconciliation. Another undertaking was to develop the law of the land of Namibia, that would among other things, guarantee civil liberties for all in Namibia. These undertakings, according to Kandetu, guarantee freedoms such as the freedom of expression and the right of association ... "Our obligation is to cover all social, political and other events and to do so fairly within the realm of human possibility and should we fail to do so, it must be because of our limited capabilities ... He said the NBC would continue to be all-inclusive when rendering its services to the nation, in conformity with the country's law. Where shortcomings show according to Kandetu, they expect guidance from the nation, in particular from those who are or must necessarily be the custodians of the constitution. "These are the members of the national Parliament, political parties, civic associations, the church movement, the media, academic institutions and all other social formations in our land of the brave." ...

Zambian court supports satirist

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:15:24 -0500

Zambia court backs British satirist
PRESS TV - Tehran,Iran
The Supreme Court in Zambia has rejected the government's demands to deport a British satirist for allegedly insulting the president in 2004. Roy Clarke, a satirical columnist of the privately owned daily 'The Post', was prosecuted by the state after he had referred to President Levy

Botswana drops in world press ranking

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:30:56 -0500

Botswana drops in world press ranking
Mmegi - Gaberones,Botswana
The 2008 report by Reporters Sans Frontieres has noted that there are problems that make journalists' work difficult in Botswana. The country has dropped from last year's 'Satisfactory Situation' to 'Noticeable Problems'. The report reveals that Botswana is in the same ranking as Central African

Zimbabwe: Toronto journalist threatened

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:33:48 -0500

Zimbabwe: Toronto Journalist Threatened Over Article On Political ...
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
CJFE is concerned by reports that Toronto-based journalist Innocent Madawo has received threatening phone calls. Earlier this week, Madawo had written an article on the subject of the political situation in Zimbabwe as it approaches elections in March. Madawo's opinion piece was sent out by e-mail on January 7, 2008, to

Angola defends detention of journalist

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:26:39 -0500

Angola: Republic Attorney Denies Arbitrary Detention of Journalist
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
The Republic general attorney (PGR), João Maria de Sousa, said Monday in Luanda that the detention of journalist Fernando Lelo was by no means arbitrary, as there are "strong signs of crime against the State security". Speaking during an interview with the State-run "Rádio Nacional de Angola" broadcasting station, João Maria de Sousa said

NBC denounces talk radio "abuse"

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:33:47 -0500

Namibia: Talk Radio Still a Thorn in NBC's Flesh
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
The Board of Directors of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has expressed concern about the public's abuse of some of the national broadcaster's radio stations ... It called on political leaders to use "maximum influence over their supporters" as they exercise their democratic rights. "Democracy and

Angolan reporter sentenced to 30 days

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:43:48 -0500

Angola: Provincial Radio Reporter Receives 30-Day Prison Sentence ...
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
RSF condemns the 30-day prison sentence passed by a criminal court in the southwestern city of Namibe on 28 December 2007 against Armando Chicoca, a correspondent of the privately-owned radio station Radio Ecclesia, following his arrest during a demonstration by street vendors six days earlier."Chicoca's arrest and conviction seem to have been a case of the authorities

MONUC accused of backing hate speech

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 04:26:44 -0500

Congo-Kinshasa: UN Official in Bitter Exchange With Rebel Sympathizers
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
The spokesman of the UN Mission in DR Congo (MONUC) and Radio Okapi are at the centre of a bitter row with people who seem to be sympathetic to dissident Gen Laurent Nkunda following allegations that the rebels are forcefully recruiting children, RNA reports ... Frank Ndahiriwe demands why MONUC spokesman Kamal Saiki has not come forward with evidence to support his assertions ... According to Mr. Ndahiriwe, the MONUC force that Mr. Saiki calls

Freedom of information Bill in Mozambique

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:28:08 -0400

Mozambique: MISA Demands Freedom of Information Legislation
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA

The Mozambican chapter of MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) has once again urged the country's parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, to pass a law on freedom of information, guaranteeing access to public sources of information. MISA itself, after lengthy consultations, drafted a freedom of information bill and in November 2005 deposited it with the Legal Affairs Commission of the Assembly. In the ensuing two years, there is no sign that either the ruling Frelimo Party or the opposition Renamo-Electoral Union coalition has taken it seriously ... Journalists have frequently complained of being denied access to data on spurious grounds, such as that the information is "secret" or "confidential" ... In a statement issued after a meeting of its General Assembly at the weekend, MISA-Mozambique said it was particularly important for the Assembly to pass a freedom of information bill now, because the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has decided that the central celebrations for World Press Freedom Day (3 May) in 2008 will be held in Mozambique ... 3 May was chosen as World Press Freedom Day because it was on that date, in 1991, that African media professionals approved the Windhoek Declaration, which laid down the principle for independent and pluralist media on the continent ...

Swaziland editor cleared of charges

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:45:50 -0400

Swaziland: Newspaper Editor Cleared of Contempt Charges
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA

On 10 October 2007, "Sunday Times" editor Mbongeni Mbingo was cleared of contempt charges brought against him by the House of Assembly. The Select Committee found that the editor did not in any way abuse freedom of the press, but was legitimately expressing his journalistic opinion. His right to do so is enshrined in the Constitution of Swaziland under the Bill of Rights, Section 24 "The Protection of Freedom of Expression". In July 2007, in the view of some Members of Parliament (MPs), Mbingo had acted in contempt of Parliament when he criticised the Speaker and House of Assembly for blocking a recent motion by another MP, who sought to question an alleged secret move by Cabinet and traditional authorities to amend certain clauses in the Constitution without the knowledge of the nation. A five-member Select Committee was appointed to investigate the editor ... If found guilty, Mbingo would have faced a maximum of two years in jail or a E4000 (approx. US$600) fine, according to recently amended Parliament Standing Orders ... MISA Swaziland's director, Comfort Mabuza, sees the committee's judgement as a milestone for the Swaziland chapter of MISA and other senior journalists who had to come face to face with the Select Committee ...

DRC death sentence: journalists outraged

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:02:38 -0400

Journalist Rights Group in DRC Outraged Over Death Sentences
Voice of America - USA
By Selah Hennessy A journalist rights group is calling for a retrial in the Democratic Republic of Congo after four men were convicted Tuesday by a military court of killing a journalist and sentenced to death. Congolese police officials say justice has been served, but Reporters Without Borders says the trial has been a farce ... The four men were found guilty of murdering Serge Maheshe, a U.N. radio journalist who was shot dead in the eastern town of Bukavu in June. Two of the men, both demobilized soldiers, have been sentenced as assassins, while the other two are said to have ordered and organized the murder. General Gaston Luzembo, the chief inspector of police in South Kivu, says it's normal for some people to be unhappy about the sentencing ... Spokesman Leonard Vincent says the two men convicted of ordering the killing, Serge Muhima and Alain Mulimdi Shamavu, were close friends of Maheshe and were with him when he was murdered ... no evidence has been produced to prove that the two journalists organized the murder of their friend or that they had any motivation to murder him. Maheshe, the U.N. reporter, was one of at least four journalists murdered in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2005. Patrick Kikuku, a freelance photojournalist, was killed by unidentified men in August ... The world's largest journalist union, the International Federation of Journalists, says that after Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the most dangerous place in Africa for journalists.