SPECIAL FEATURE: DELIGHT IN PRESS PREEDOM

The world marked the twenty first birthday 0f World Press Freedom on Friday the second last week since its inception in 1991 to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, pay tribute to fallen journalists, defend the media from attacks on their independence and evaluate press freedom across the world. All these principles on good will are made possible by the united nations general assembly in its bid to establish fundamental rights of many groups among them children. We here take pride in this day and celebrate many milestones that have been achieved along the years notably freedom of expression and independence of the media both press and digital to inform the society without obstacles from the political elites especially in our country.

If it were not for this freedom, perhaps we could not be relaying this message today. It was a worthy thought to be established as a society without independent media and freedom is like a gloomy sky which impedes the sun from shining on earth to spark some vegetation to blossom. We could  not afford that kind of darkness and infinite. The devil at heart could make many a meal not withstanding the level of ignorance and all nature of abuses especially among the weak creation in the name of children, the disabled and women. Whereas such a day means a lot to media of all forms, it is regrettable however that still abuses are tendered freely amongst journalists in certain parts of Africa and the Middle East countries such as Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

We highly admonish and condemn injustices castigated against journalists on duty in the middle East countries and some parts of Africa. Press is of essence to communities and one can ignorantly under estimate its role on their own peril. Their space and duty stands unopposed and cannot be filled by any other body other than media itself. Our strong message is therefore to those individuals out there who think they are some kind of a deity to offer abuses and treat journalists as they want to borrow a leave from media and inform those empty heads the meaning of modesty and coexistence. Countries that still oppress their media must learn to respect themselves and members of the fourth estate to enable the development of their countries as it is only through information that problems are solved and a window for growth opened.