Maputo, 12 Apr (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi believes that journalists are working in a challenging environment characterized by islamist terrorism in some districts of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, climate change and other life-threatening events.
The President expressed his thoughts on Thursday, in Pemba, capital of Cabo Delgado province, at the 13th National Meeting of Municipalities taking place under the slogan “For Inclusive and Sustainable Municipal Development”, which coincided with the celebrations of Mozambican Journalists’ Day on 11 April.
“We are taking advantage of this noble space to say congratulations to Mozambican journalism. Journalists work in a very challenging environment, which we sometimes don’t understand”, he said.
“Our journalists are there, where there are diseases and pandemics, but also moments of joy in our culture, in our sport, moments in production, in our agriculture, in industry. So they deserve the applause that we are now proclaiming”, the President said.
He regarded journalism as an industry and is therefore challenging the media sector to organize itself in the best possible way in order to take advantage of competitive advantages in an area that is constantly evolving.
The President also challenged journalists not only to inform, but also to educate Mozambican society, taking into account the social role they play and the credibility they enjoy.
He asked the press to help the government to investigate the causes of the shipwreck that took place on Sunday in Nampula province, killing 98 people.
“An important phase has already passed, which was to report the accident. Now comes another, equally important phase, which is to explain why it happened and how to educate the population. This will help prevent citizens from boarding a boat that is not prepared to carry passengers. This educational part is very important because it contributes much more to society and humanity”, he said.
Regarding the National Meeting of Municipalites, the President called on the 65 mayors, elected in the October 2023 municipal elections, to exercise results-oriented governance and focus on solving the problems that concern citizens.
“You are a generation of young mayors who must bring a new creativity to municipal governance. We want results-orientated action, not regrets”. he said.
(AIM)
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