Press Freedom

ZAMBIA: Scarcely Room for Women in Male-dominated Politics

By IPS Correspondents
Charity Mwansa, a former minister and member of parliament, knows just exactly what being one of the very few female politicians in Zambia means. When she left politics it had nothing to with not being able to do the work and instead had everything to do with the mad world of male-dominated politics.

MEXICO: Journalists’ Options – Silence, Exile or the Grave

By Emilio Godoy
Journalists are the target of such violence in Mexico that many have been forced to seek refuge in the United States, or to give up their profession. And the outlook at the start of this year is even grimmer for media workers in this country.
Zambian police illegally detain the female relatives of suspects in the hope of solving a case. Credit: Manoocher Deghati/IRIN

ZAMBIA: Police Breaking the Law to Prevent Crime

By IPS Correspondents
Juniper Mwale was attending a funeral in another town when her husband jumped bail and fled the country. Despite not being aware of her husband's escape, police tracked her down and detained her illegally in an effort to force her spouse home.

MEXICO: Activists Worried About “Secret” Internet Treaty

By Emilio Godoy
An international treaty to combat copyright infringement and piracy, being negotiated by Mexico and other countries, could curtail expansion of the internet, violate people's rights to privacy and freedom of expression, and undermine multilateral accords on intellectual property, activists warn.

RIGHTS-EGYPT: Bloggers Name and Shame Torturers

By Cam McGrath
People might expect fresh-faced Noha Atef to spend a lot of time writing blogs and perusing social networking sites, but they are often surprised by the content of her posts and tweets. The 25-year-old Egyptian journalist uses the Internet to expose police abuse and torture in her home country.

MEDIA: 2009 Deadliest Year Ever For Journalists

By IPS Correspondents
The election-related killings of more than 30 media workers in the Philippines made 2009 the deadliest year ever for journalists, according to a major press freedom advocacy group.
The ECZ has failed to drag offenders of election violence to court. Credit: Lewis Mwanangombe/IPS

ZAMBIA: Violence Threatens Polls

By Lewis Mwanangombe
Prisca Musonda is an ardent supporter of Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata and his party. She has travelled with him to most parliamentary constituencies campaigning in elections.
It is not uncommon for Sudanese women to leave work during work hours just to tend to their husband

SOUTH SUDAN: Women Perpetuate Culture of Submission

By Miriam Gathigah
All day Rosalinda Duany sells vegetables from her stall at the local market, earning a living to feed her family while her husband spends his days idling with his friends. But when his days become too boring and he demands his conjugal rights, Duany wordlessly stops work just to oblige him.
The Supreme Court building in Lusaka. The objectiveness of the judicary has been called into question by the opposition. Credit: Brian Dell/Wikicommons

ZAMBIA: Chief Justice Accused of Collusion by Opposition

By Kelvin Kachingwe
Chief justice Ernest Sakala has been accused of colluding with the president’s administration to protect high-profile people accused of corruption. But the Law Association of Zambia has rejected the charges as unfair.

ZAMBIA: Justice Delayed Becoming Justice Denied

By Lewis Mwanangombe
Harry Mubita was tired of his wretched condition in prison. He had been in Lusaka Central Prison for more than a year, and still there was no sign that his theft case would be heard.

POLITICS-AFRICA: Seeking a Democratic South Sudan

By Miriam Gathigah
The atmosphere is heavily charged with political tensions, alliances are already in the offing, expectations are high and the pressure for the country to achieve a successful transition from an interim government to a democratically elected one is immense.
Chansa Kabwela speaking to the media after her acquittal. Credit: Kelvin Kachingwe/IPS

RIGHTS-ZAMBIA: ‘Justice Prevailed’ – Says News Editor Acquitted of False Charges

By Kelvin Kachingwe
Chansa Kabwela faced a five-year jail sentence when she sent photographs of a woman giving birth, without medical assistance while in the country’s largest hospital, to government officials.
Uganda chief justice Benjamin Odoki says arbitration will help reduce the backlog in the courts. Credit: Joshua Kyalimpa/IPS

UGANDA: Mob Justice Increases as Court Backlogs Escalate

By Joshua Kyalimpa
Sam Kubo had gone to lease out his 600 hectares of land in Kayunga district. But instead he went to his death.

ETHIOPIA: New Election Code Sparks Furore

By Omer Redi
Opposition parties are troubled by what they say is government’s strategy to keep them out of the general elections in May 2010.
Secretary-general of the SLAJ, Mustapha Sesay, says his organisation is disappointed with the court

SIERRA LEONE: Mixed Reactions to Libel Laws Ruling

By Mohamed Fofanah
Journalists in Sierra Leone can still be arrested and jailed for writing material considered "libel" regardless if what they published is true or not.

CHILE: Media Empires Undermine Pluralistic Democracy

By Daniela Estrada
Chile is a classic example of the concentration of media ownership in too few hands, says Chilean journalist María Olivia Mönckeberg in her latest book "Los magnates de la prensa" (The Press Magnates). If the state does not exercise stricter regulation, democracy itself may be undermined, she warns.

POLITICS-BOTSWANA: I Lost the Election, But I Am a Winner

By IPS Correspondents
When Kgomotso Mogami threw her name into the hat to contest the Gaborone Central parliamentary seat it was easy for many people to write her off.

SOUTH SUDAN: Media Give Us a Fair Deal – Women

By Miriam Gathigah
The guns have gone silent – except for sporadic conflict in parts of the vast South Sudan region, such as the Eastern Equatoria State. It may not be the absolute end of the conflict in the region, but it is a reason for renewed hope.

POLITICS: Malawians Demand Local Councils

By IPS Correspondents
In Malawi, local government elections are as rare and endangered as the country’s black rhinoceros.
Venesa Karises (18) will be voting for the first time in Nambia's elections. Credit: Servaas van den Bosch/IPS

POLITICS-NAMIBIA: The Struggle Does So Not Continue

By Servaas van den Bosch
They are called the "born frees", the children of Namibia’s Independence, and they will vote for the first time this month. Struggle credentials mean zip to them, and they have a serious beef with politicians.
Senator Thuli Msane spoke out against arresting sex workers. Credit: Mantoe Phakathi/IPS

SWAZILAND: Help Sex Workers – Senator

By Mantoe Phakathi
It is one of the world's oldest professions, dating so far back that it is even mentioned in the Bible. But in the deeply cultural and religious country of Swaziland, Senator Thuli Msane stirred a hornet's nest when she publicly challenged a new strict bill opposing prostitution.
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