UNESCO Director-General, MISA condemn the killing of Lesotho broadcaster.
By Dumisani Ndlovu
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has condemned the killing of
the Lesotho broadcaster,Joki and urged authorities to investigate the
crime and hold those responsible to account.
In the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) press release UNESCO
boss Azoulay was reported as saying “Violent attacks on journalists
must not be used to discourage them from conducting their fundamental
work, on which all of society relies”.
Unidentified assailants are reported to have fired at least 13 bullets
at Joki, while he was driving away from his place of work on Sunday,
14 May 2023.
Joki, a presenter with Lesotho radio station, Tṧenolo FM, was shot
dead outside the premises of the radio station, in Maseru, the
country’s capital.
The motive behind his shooting is not known, although there is
consensus among stakeholders that the reason he was killed was related
to his work as a journalist.
In the past two months, Joki had been receiving threats on social
media, particularly Facebook.
In one threat, a Facebook user identified as Enock Enock:posted that:
“Reporters without vision like Leqhashasha, who use radio to spread
hate, meet terrible deaths.”
In another instance, another user said Joki “would pay with his skin
for being disrespectful and making many enemies”.
The police are yet to make any arrests.
MISA Lesotho chairperson Kananelo Boloetse condemned the act.
“These acts are an affront to our attainment of democracy … they may
have the potential to instil fear in journalists as they execute their
mandate to society.
“It is our fervent hope that justice will speedily be served and the
assassins of Mr Joki will be apprehended and face the wrath of the
law,” said
MISA Regional Director Tabani Moyo expressed shock at Joki’s killing.
“Just recently, we celebrated World Press Freedom Day, where we
applauded Lesotho for turning the corner in terms of attacks against
journalists, as the safety environment for journalists had seemingly
improved,” he said Boloetse.
“Joki’s killing is a throwback to the dark days when armed people
would storm newsrooms and shoot at journalists with impunity.”
Moyo called for a speedy investigation, cautioning that any delay
would further entrench impunity in Lesotho and make the practice of
journalism even more difficult.
(Below are screenshots of the death threats made against Ralikonelo
Joki over the past two months)
