Mozambique
Mozambican media gets foreign aid

afrol News, 26 January - Recent attacks on the independent press in Mozambique have moved the Norwegian agency for development cooperation (NORAD) to enhance its support to the sector. An additional 2 million euro is coming from the home country of murdered journalist Carlos Cardoso's widow.

The murder of the prominent Mozambican journalist Carlos Cardoso in November 2000 has been thoroughly covered by the Norwegian press due to the fact that his widow, Nina Berg, and two children are Norwegian citizens. Mrs Berg has repeatedly been interviewed in the Norwegian press, commenting on the media situation in Mozambique and on the ongoing case, where her two sons are denounced by the son of the Mozambican President.

NORAD this week announced it would increase the Norwegian support to the Mozambican press by 14 million kroner, approximately 1.8 million euro (US$ 1.6 million). The funds, to be distributed through locally UNDP, are to "strengthen the education of journalists and improve the press' situation outside the capital," according to NORAD's Anita Kristin Fausa.

- We want to contribute to the creation of a pluralistic media landscape in Mozambique, Mrs Fausa says. "Earlier stages of the [media] project have shown positive results, especially regarding the development of local radio broadcast and the thorough coverage of the 1999 elections."

In its press statement, NORAD especially comments the "attacks on journalists" experienced in Mozambique. Although the freedom of the press was guaranteed by the Mozambican constitution, "Mozambique still has experienced several attacks on journalists of different origin. The murder of Carlos Cardoso was an example of the threat against journalist," NORAD comments in a statement targeting the Norwegian media.

NORAD also sees the constitutional right to information in Mozambique threatened by the heavy concentration of newspapers in the national capital, which barely reach out to the countryside. 

- The flourishing of media is very much connected to Maputo and southern Mozambique, criticises Mrs Fausa. "We therefore want to emphasise on distribution systems and the establishment of local centres of communication that can strengthen the access to and existence of pluralistic media also in the north," says Mrs Fausa. 

The NORAD project further emphasises on the development of journalism in Mozambique. It is an aim to increase the consciousness of journalists of their society responsibilities, including the diffusion of competent information about issues such as democracy and human rights; HIV/AIDS; gender equality; and environment. Women and youth were to be given special attention regarding journalistic education.

Norwegian aid funding has however "a profound tendency of following the Norwegian media coverage," a source within NORAD, asking to remain anonymous, yesterday told afrol News. "When the media have left, Norwegian aid leaves shortly thereafter," the source added, referring especially to the Norwegian engagement in Kosovo and Afghanistan. It may thus seem that the media attention surrounding Mrs Berg in Norway has given direct rise to NORAD's enhanced media support to Mozambique. The Mozambican press thus has another reason to be grateful to late Mr Cardoso and his widow.

Sources: Based on NORAD sources and afrol archives

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