METICAL CLOSES
AS STAFF OPT FOR MONEY

"Metical", the independent faxed daily newspaper of the assassinated editor Carlos Cardoso, closed on 28 December, after the staff took $40,000 compensation and decided not to continue with "Metical". Some staff plan to found a new newspaper.

"Metical" was set up by Cardoso in 1997 and was always his personal project. He was sole owner and did most of the writing and reporting. With Cardoso's murder on 22 November 2000, the position of the newspaper became untenable. It soon became clear that as editor and publisher, Cardoso had done most of the work. The remaining staff proved not to have the drive and experience needed to maintain Cardoso's project and the quality of the newspaper deteriorated rapidly. Meanwhile, the ownership of the newspaper, and all possible liabilities, had passed to Cardoso's heirs, his two young children, Ibo and Milena, aged 12 and six.

Carlos Cardoso's widow Nina Berg faced conflicting advice. Some argued that "Metical" should be closed immediately. But "Metical" had been the voice of progressive civil society, and many there urged that the paper remain open. On the assumption that civil society would back the newspaper, this option was chosen, and Maria de Lourdes Torcato was named director while an attempt was found to find a viable way to continue. But no alternative proposals were forthcoming; key progressive figures had other projects and other priorities and did not have the time or interest in maintaining "Metical".

Meanwhile, the staff found that in some ways Mozambican labour law treats the death of a sole proprietor, such as Cardoso, as a closure, and that they were entitled to compensation, even though the company continued to function. In mid-2001, as discussions continued about the future of "Metical", the staff made clear that their priority was the cash compensation and that the money had to be settled before there was any discussion of the future of the newspaper.

Initially, many on the staff expected that they would be given the newspaper as well as compensation for the closure, but it soon became clear that it was unrealistic to expect money on the assumption that a company had closed, and then to be given the company as a going concern. In any case, any money paid comes from the estate and thus from the children. So Nina Berg proposed to sell the company, including equipment, subscription lists, and the name, to the staff so that they could continue. But the staff never made a serious proposal, so "Metical" closed -- and the company is for sale.

The underlying problem, however, is not financial. Carlos Cardoso was Mozambique's best journalist. His murder has left a vacuum; other journalists have not stepped forward to fill his place. As Marcelo Mosse wrote on the anniversary of his killing: "There is less investigation of corruption; there are fewer denunciations of the lies of the state."

Perhaps most surprising is that Mozambican journalists have not attempted to investigate Cardoso's murder. If one of his staff had been assassinated in that way, Carlos Cardoso would have used the resources of "Metical" to investigate, but when Carlos was killed, his own staff declined to launch an investigation.

The gunning-down of Carlos Cardoso ended an era of Mozambican journalism. The closure of "Metical" now simply underlines the reality that no one was able and willing to take his place.
(Joseph Hanlon, 28.12.01)
 

Related articles:
AIM on the closure of "Metical"
J. Hanlon on Chissano's defamation action against "Metical"