Congolese journalists on the streets

Newsrooms occupants are a worried lot in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have a thousand and one reasons to fear for their lives. They have seen it all while exercising their duty. From mere Short Message Service – SMS – threats to being beaten in broad day light by security forces, at least every journalist working within the “canons of journalism” has been a victim.

No much activism by Human Rights campaigner will end the unorthodox behavior by the “thugs” who have made journalists their target for all wrong reasons. A few days ago, the government spokesman and minister for Information and press, Lambert Mende released a blue print on the government responsibility over the killing of journalists. Tough the publication clears President Kabila’s government of any killing of scribes; it acknowledges however that some “rogue” security agents have been responsible of journalists’ harassments and killings.

Journalists’ associations in the country mobilized all their members to march the streets of major towns in the country. But for some reasons, the only successful demonstration was held in Kinshasa. Talking to Hapamedia during the demonstration, the main Congolese journalist’s association UPC’s (Union de la Presse Congolaise) chairperson Chantal Kanyimbo said that this was a way of sensitizing Congolese leaders to take seriously the menace that journalists are facing.  

It’s for the interest of everyone that the Democratic Republic of Congo brings freedom of press within its borders to sanitize the media arena. Let’s be reminded that 80% percent of Media houses in the DR Congo are said to be President Kabila’s AMP sympathisants. They openly endorse the President and his coalition Party. Journalists working for these outlets do also recklessly criticize their independent counterparts or those supporting other political movements to the detriments of the Media Law, Ethics and regulations.

The latest marching of the streets from the freedom of press and raising awareness on the conditions that Journalists are working in was done in unisons despite previous rift due to political allegiances.

HAPAMEDIA