Mozambique has a history of corruption and injustice, but recently, Mozambicans have begun to demand change. In 1994, Mozambique held its first free elections after years of colonial rule and civil war. A government previously controlled by a powerful elite is yielding to influence from citizens.
Livaningo, Mozambique’s first environmental NGO, has been important both to the process of instituting participatory democracy in Mozambique and to the struggle to protect Mozambique’s environment.
In May of 1998, Carlos Cardoso, a prominent Mozambican journalist, wrote an article exposing a Danish-funded plan to incinerate dangerous pesticides in a cement kiln in the town of Matola. Alarmed by Cardoso’s article, a local
woman initiated efforts to fight the plan, involving Greenpeace and other international organizations in the campaign.
An independent investigation concluded that the old cement factory was not suitable for incinerating more than 900 tons of obsolete
pesticides – as carcinogenic chemicals released would endanger the health of the community. After the experts disclosed their findings at the press conference, the local people present decided to organize efforts to oppose the project. Frustrated by the fact that the Mozambican government had not consulted them and had left them in the dark, they named their new activist group “Livaningo,” the word for “shedding light” in the local language of
Shangaan. The group wanted to “shed light” on the dangers that the incineration of toxic waste would create for their community.
Combining international networking with the commitment of local people, Livaningo grew rapidly. It expanded its media campaign and increasingly put pressure on the Mozambican government.
In these early days of Mozambican democracy, Livaningo has led the way for citizen participation in government decisions and demonstrated to the country that participation can yield positive results. Eventually, thanks in
large part to Livaningo’s efforts, the Mozambican government sent 900 tons of toxic chemicals back to Germany and the Netherlands for safer disposal.
Carlos Cardoso’s inquiry into government decisions and scandals was not limited to his investigation into the situation in Matola. Having probed too close to the truth in a number of his investigations, Cardoso was considered
a threat by some people. In November of 2000, Cardoso was murdered by gunmen who were allegedly motivated by a $50,000 reward.
In order to encourage journalists to follow Cardoso’s example of producing exceptional investigative journalism, Livaningo decided to establish the Carlos Cardoso Prize, an annual prize for excellence in investigative journalism in Mozambique. By awarding this prize, Livaningo hoped to continue its mission of “shedding light” and to recognize the importance of
aggressive investigative journalism to this pursuit.
Livaningo was not the only organization to have the idea of creating a prize honoring Cardoso and his work, and several groups have combined their efforts and created a prize larger than any of the groups could have awarded separately. Other groups sponsoring the Carlos Cardoso Prize include the European Union, the Swiss Embassy, MISA (Media Institute for Southern Africa), and Media Coop. The prize, a total of 4,000 Euros, was awarded for the first time on May 3rd, 2004, World Press Freedom Day. Boaventure Mandlate, a journalist at Radio Mozambique, was the recipient.
In support of Livaningo’s efforts, Global Greengrants Fund awarded the organization a $3,500 grant. The bulk of the grant was used toward the organization’s contribution to the Carlos Cardoso Prize.