A group of journalists exiled in South Africa have decide to form an association to deal with their frustration at not being able to work in South African newsrooms, writes Bate Felix.
"This is an association of journalists based in South Africa, who because of oppressive media laws in their countries, cannot practice and have decided to cross the border," said Magugu Nyathi, the group’s coordinator and former journalist with the Tribune in Zimbabwe, which was shut down last year.
Nyathi said the Cross Border Association of Journalists (CAJ), formed in September, is made up of about 50 exiled journalists from various African countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Cote D’ivoire, Ethiopia, the DRC, Somalia and Nigeria.
Zakeus Chibaya, CAJ secretary general, said it is very difficult for exiled African journalists in South Africa to work even as freelancers because local media houses do not trust them enough to hire them. He added that even when they do have story ideas and stories, there are few or no outlets for them.
Chibaya said most exiled journalists lack phones, computers, internet, transport and contacts, which frustrates any plans to continuing to work as journalists.
A committee has been created to cater for the immediate needs of the association - which is getting funds and support to set up a working office, said Thuso Khumalo former news producer at the Zimbabwean Broadcasting Corporation, and CAJ treasurer.
The association plans to partner media training organisations that would be able to support and train CAJ members so that they can familiarise themselves with the South African environment and be able to contribute in newsrooms.
Nyathi added that these journalists come with a wealth of different experiences that would be very useful not only to the South African press, but also to other media organisations in the country.
She added that there’s a massive foreign community in South Africa whose stories are not told. "These stories need to be told in their fullness, not just negative reporting" that is often seen about foreigners.
"Our failure to integrate with local media has also to do with local perception, they have a wrong perception about exiled journalists, and maybe they doubt our skills. This is where this association plans to help," said Nyathi.
