- More than half (52%) of Mozambicans say the media should constantly investigate and report on government mistakes and corruption, while 43% believe too much reporting harms the country (Figure 1)
- But fewer than half (44%) insist on media freedom without government control, while 51% endorse a government right to prevent the publication of things it disapproves of (Figure 2)
- More than half (53%) of citizens say the country’s media is “somewhat free” (33%) or “completely free” (20%) to report and comment on the news without government interference, but 41% disagree with that assessment (Figure 3)
- Majorities believe that government bids and contracts with businesses (67%), the salaries of teachers and local government officials (52%), and local government budgets (51%) should be shared with the public (Figure 4)
- Radio and television remain the most popular news source among Mozambicans, with 53% and 44%, respectively, saying they get their news via these channels “every day” or “a few times a week” (Figure 5). One in four citizens turn to the Internet (25%) and social media (26%) as regular news sources, while 14% rely on newspapers.
- Urban residents are far more likely than their rural counterparts to get their news from social media (30% vs. 6%) and the Internet (31% vs. 6%) (Figure 6)
A majority of Mozambicans say the media should act as a watchdog over the government, constantly investigating and reporting on government mistakes and corruption, a new Afrobarometer survey shows.
But more than half of citizens also endorse a government right to limit the dissemination of information that the government disapproves of. A slim majority say media freedom exists in practice.
Majorities reject the notion that public information should be the exclusive preserve of government officials, including government bids and contracts, the salaries of teachers and local government officials, and expenditures for local government councils.
Television and radio still outpace the Internet and social media as popular news sources in Mozambique, especially in rural areas.