Africa-Press – Mozambique. The private broadcasting station MBC TV has accused security guards employed by Mozambique Airlines (LAM) of attacking two of its journalists and damaging their equipment.
According to an MBC TV statement, journalist Rui Dgedge and camera operator Leonel Oliveira were attacked by the security guards while they were filming in the vicinity of the LAM headquarters on Sunday. The MBC team was attempting to cover the arrival in Maputo of a new aircraft purchased by the company.
Although Dgedge and Oliveira identified themselves and explained that their work is protected by the Mozambican Constitution and by the press law, the guards did not want to listen, and instead attacked them physically. They also seized the team’s working equipment, including a camera, a tripod, a microphone and cables. Part of this equipment was damaged in the scuffle.
The guards also attempted to grab their cell phones from Dgedge and Oliveira, but were unsuccessful.
Only after Dgedge phoned a member of the LAM management to protest was the MBC equipment returned.
The MBC statement pointed out that “acts of violence against journalists are an attack against press freedom, and against the rule of law”. It declared that the work of media professionals at any time “should be respected and valued by all”.
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