Paper short abstract:

This paper aims at reconstructing the relationship between press freedom and political processes in Mozambique since the mid-nineties to the present day. The period 1999-2000 was a turning point in the public debate in the country.

Paper long abstract:

After 16 years of civil war, Mozambique, in 1992, states, in Rome, the new-found peace. In 1994 the first democratic elections are held, which give the victory to Frelimo, with the election of Joaquim Alberto Chissano as a President. This scenario will be repeated at every general election, in 1999 (with the confirmation of Chissano), in 2004 (with the election of Armando Emilio Guebuza) and 2009 (confirmation of Guebuza). So, Mozambique is ranked as a 'models' between the African countries. However, in 1999-2000, a series of events - which will be discussed in the communication - cause a "turning point" in the quality of the Mozambican policy and, consequently, in the public debate in the country. The main newspapers are a direct mirror of this change. The communication aims at reviewing the debate on freedom press, since the mid-nineties in Mozambique, with the emergence of independent weekly newspapers. This thesis is especially made ​​operational by using an indicator: the express positions taken by the publishers and editors about freedom of the press, usually to curb abuses and threats by the police. The period 1999-2000 is a watershed, both in an absolute sense,both in the approach of independent and public press to this very important question. From this period these two components of Mozambican press will move away from each other more and more, with a lack of credibility by the public newspapers.