HARARE – Journalism – occasionally referred as the Fourth Estate is under siege. On average, 70 journalists are killed at work every ...
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HARARE – Journalism – occasionally referred as the Fourth Estate is under siege.
On average, 70 journalists are killed at work
every year.
Writers
are often viewed with mistrust and treated with ridicule whenever they err. Death
is always lurking.
Words
by Derick Matsengarwodzi: media consultant, author
of forthcoming books (The Winners’ Workshop and Death is not Dearth) and
founder of Aloe Media Group. Let us interact on: Facebook; Email: derickmats@gmail.com; Twitter
handle: @TinzweiDerick
The
detention of three Zimbabwe state media scribes fronted by Sunday Mail editor,
Mabasa Sasa is a curious study. Once darlings of the nation, they suddenly
turned into villains after electing to protect their source.
Pen mightier
than detention
“…
the above events are an indication that journalists can and will protect their
profession while at the same time committing themselves to professional,
ethical and quality journalism,” Foster Dongozi, the Secretary-General of the
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists opined.
Their
incarceration went viral. The trio was later released on bail.
For
once, media arrests in Harare were perceived as a recipe to quieten independent
media practitioners. What a coincidence that UN was commemorating Day Against
Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
“Over
the past decade, more than 700 journalists have been killed for bringing news
and information to the public. Worryingly, only one in ten cases committed
against media workers over the past decade has led to a conviction.
This
impunity emboldens the perpetrators of the crimes and at the same time has a
chilling effect on society including journalists themselves. Impunity breeds
impunity and feeds into a vicious cycle.”
This
day observe the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November
2013.
Anas Amrew
Anas
The
profession might be a threat to some but elsewhere it has brought relief.
Ghanaian
investigative journalist Anas Amrew
Anas has become an instant hero for trying to expose corruption and human
rights abuse with his latest documentary.
The pseudonym character recently unleashed an
anti-corruption film entitled Ghana in the Eyes of God, Epic of Injustice – a
documentary that will transform the Ghanaian judiciary.
He insists, “The most powerful weapon against
corruption is transparency and exposure. His life’s work is to ‘name, shame and
jail’ people who hurt others and break the law.
His three-hour documentary resulted in the suspension
of seven of Ghana’s 12 High Court judges and 22 lower court judges who were
secretly filmed in an alleged judicial bribery and corruption scandal.
Money, sex, yams and even a goat were among the
alleged pay-offs. In exchange, many robbers, murderers, drug dealers, rapists
and others allegedly received shortened sentences or went free.
Anas work under disguise and pretend to engage with
‘bad people’ who he then tries to film committing crimes.
People rarely see his face. Even when he gives
public talks about his work or receives awards, he hides it. Many have queried
if corruption charges against these judicial officials are true.
‘I write want
I want’
Judges, magistrates, court clerks, policemen and state
attorneys have been captured in the documentary, almost identical to the
poaching story in Harare.
The disclosure has sent shivers within the
judiciary system, with one judge arguing that the revelation “brings the
authority and administration of the law into disrespect and disrepute…”
Other defendants have demanded that he remove his
disguise in court. Luckily, he is protected by the Whistle Blower’s Act – he must
not be unmasked.
While not his first choice, Anas says he believes
working in disguise is necessary, given the powerful and sometimes dangerous
subjects of his investigations.
This
takes us back to Harare. While journalism should not attract an immunity
embargo, it deserves a mention for trying to shape society. Anas is putting his
nation first – a true patriot.
And
the solidarity exhibited at trial inspires a profession under siege. – The Aloe News
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