Quote of the Day
“A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy.” — Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela made this statement on February 14, 1994, while addressing the International Press Institute Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. The country was preparing for its first democratic national elections, and Mandela was speaking about the kind of press a democratic society needed.
Imagine living in a community where nobody dares to question those in authority.
A road project is announced, money is allocated, and months later, nothing has been done.
People complain among themselves. They wonder what happened to the money. But nobody asks publicly because they fear the consequences.
Now imagine a journalist asking those questions.
Who received the contract? How much was paid? Why has the work stopped?
These are not necessarily comfortable questions. But they are necessary ones.
We sometimes expect journalists to report only the things we agree with. When their investigations expose wrongdoing by people we support, we may suddenly accuse them of being biased.
That is where our commitment to press freedom is tested.
A journalist’s responsibility is not to make powerful people comfortable. It is to investigate matters of public interest, verify facts and report fairly.
Of course, journalists must also be accountable for what they publish. Freedom does not excuse dishonesty or careless reporting.
But criticism should be answered with facts, not intimidation.
If we believe the press should question those we disagree with, are we equally willing to let it question those we support?
Source: Nelson Mandela Foundation — Selected Quotes
Did You Know?
Your right to information is recognized in Africa’s own human rights charter.
Imagine that a new health centre is promised to your community.
Residents are excited. Parents hope they will no longer have to travel long distances when their children fall sick.
Months pass.
The building remains unfinished.
Someone asks what happened to the project funds. Another wants to know when construction will resume.
Should these questions be treated as disrespectful?
Not according to the principles behind Africa’s human rights framework.
Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights recognizes every individual’s right to receive information. It also protects the right to express and share opinions, subject to the Charter’s provisions.
In 2013, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted a Model Law on Access to Information for Africa.
The document provides guidance to countries developing or improving laws that allow people to obtain information held by public institutions and certain private bodies.
It also encourages public institutions to make information available without always waiting for someone to request it.
The Model Law is not automatically binding national legislation. Countries must establish their own legal procedures, and legitimate restrictions may apply.
Still, its underlying message is worth remembering.
Public information should not be treated as a personal favour reserved for people with connections.
Consider the ordinary questions citizens ask.
Why has our school not received the promised classrooms?
How were beneficiaries of a public programme selected?
What happened to the funds allocated for our community project?
People cannot meaningfully participate in public decisions when they are denied the information needed to understand those decisions.
Asking questions about public affairs is not necessarily an act of opposition. Sometimes, it is simply what responsible citizenship looks like.
Sources: African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights — African Charter, Article 9 · African Commission — Model Law on Access to Information for Africa (2013)
For Discussion
Have you ever tried to obtain information about a public project, government service or community decision and found it unnecessarily difficult?
What would change in our communities if public officials explained their decisions more openly and citizens felt comfortable asking questions?
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