September 20, 2022 at 10:59 am
Mário de Oliveira, after taking office, on Monday, by the President of the Republic, replacing Manuel Homem, not only underlined that the state media will be “more open to criticism” but also added that criticism “does not scare” the Government of the Fifth Legislature.
The new person responsible for the supervision of the State Media – TPA, RNA, Angop and Jornal de Angola – or in the State universe – TV Zimbo, OPaís and Rádio Mais or TV Palanca, after being recovered by the State for having been acquired with public money – he also said that criticism is “an activity that helps to improve when it is constructive” and whoever wants progress is “always healthy”.
The editorial bias of the media under state supervision was and still is the main criticism made by the opposition of the main Angolan parties in recent years, with UNITA, the largest opposition party, hitting that key since 2008, when the first elections after the end of the armed conflict in 2002.
It is recalled that, when João Lourenço came to power, with the then minister João Melo, the media was one of the areas where Angolan society expected greater evolution towards opening, which effectively occurred in the first two years, having , clearly, retroceded in the second half of the first term of the successor of José Eduardo dos Santos.
However, Mário Oliveira, quoted by Lusa, insisted on leaving a clear message: “We must bear in mind that it will not be the media that will organize and produce activities to be disseminated”.
The official says that “organisations, of a political or social nature, need to produce acts that ensure that the bodies are covered”, he replied to Lusa, when asked about the alleged lack of contradictory in public bodies.
“And so, in this sense we have no question, and to say that the media will continue to be a communication for everyone”, he assured.
Speaking at the Presidential Palace, in Luanda, where the new government was sworn in, Mário de Oliveira recalled that Angola had, in the previous term, “significant rise” in the ranking of transparency in the media.
“And this rise is a consequence of the opening that took place during the previous legislature, which is to continue”, he promised.