"The prize encourages journalists to commit themselves to the promotion of democracy. Above all it is a tribute to Carlos Cardoso, who as an investigative journalist meant so much to our country," said Hilário Matusse, secretary-general of the Mozambican union of journalists, SNJ.
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| Boaventura Mandlate |
Carlos Cardoso was killed four years ago because he knew too much about corruption scandals in government. His killer escaped from prison for the second time a few days before the presentation of the prize.
"This prize is still very relevant in our country and important as a way to denounce corruption. With this prize we show that we are standing up against those forces in society that counteractpress freedom and transparency," said Matusse.
Reach
Boaventura Mandlate was the only radio journalist among fifteen nominees. He said he hoped that more of his radio colleagues will feel encouraged to register next year. "Rádio Moçambique broadcasts reach more people than newspapers do, owing to widespread illiteracy. Moreover, our broadcasts are not only in Portuguese but also in other local languages. Radio is therefore of great importance for the dissemination of information throughout Mozambique."
Siba Siba
Mandlate started his career as a journalist in 1982 when he became a reporter for Rádio Moçambique. Today he still works for the station, where he now edits programmes on political and economic and development issues, presents summaries of newspaper reports and produces a programme on research.
He has won several prizes: in 1990 one in investigative journalism, in 2002 one in environmental journalism, and earlier in 2004 the Siba Siba prize for best economic/financial journalistic contribution. (Siba Siba Macuacua, a bank manager, was killed in 2001 for his fight against corruption, ed.).
Mandlate wants to contribute to democracy by giving people a voice. His prize-winning reports are not about corruption or politics in the capital, Maputo. "I want to break away from the city, because most Mozambicans live in the rural areas. That is where one gets in touch with real life. In my reports I try to show what is running through their minds."
For instance, he has reported on the extension of Kruger National Park into Mozambique. "People and animals cannot live together. Thousands of people are removed from the lands they and their ancestors have always lived on. That’s asking for conflicts."
Cashew
The radio journalist also reported on the cashew industry, which was an issue Carlos Cardoso covered prominently. Many cashew plants in Mozambique were forced to close down because of the policy of liberalisation. "Mozambique used to be one of the major cashew exporters. Now we are nowhere anymore. In my report I wanted to show how important cashew is to Mozambicans and how government policy is affecting people who depend on this industry for their livelihood."
Good investigative journalism requires time, money and effort. "Time is hardly the problem in our newsrooms. We also have a special fund that we can use if we want to do research. But the roads are bad, and travelling to meet people in the rural areas is difficult. We don’t have enough money to rent a Jeep. But I often manage to reach my destination by hitchhiking."
The Carlos Cardoso prize was initiated by the Mozambican union of journalists SNJ, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the European Commission, Swiss Embassy and Livaningo, a Mozambican nonprofit organisation. They presented Mandlate with the prize, which amounted 4000 US $. "I do not feel successful because of that money, but because of the many positive reactions I got to my reports. I will keep the money in reserve for the day I will need it for some important journalistic research." Barbara Bosma works in Mozambique as an independent journalist.
barrazulu@tvcabo.co.mz
MISA is a partner of NIZA's Media programme.
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