My friends, if I'm going to be brief, I'll leave you with two points of reflection or advice for the new structure of the cream of the executive, the Council of Ministers. The first has to do with the agenda of the meeting and the relationship with the media. The next is the relationship between the people and the executive via the media.

What is being discussed in the Council of Ministers is a secret from the gods until the usual weekly briefing takes place. Why this is so, I don't know, but I suspect it may be a strategy to 'limit' questions from the media. You see, a journalist who goes to a press conference unprepared for the topic of the presentation doesn't have much chance of asking substantive questions. This is true of executive briefings, and often such questions come when it's no longer appropriate to ask.... It's the new day. And this brings us to the second point.

Living life on the streets, under the scorching sun, or hunkered down on the roads on rainy days, or bemoaning the poverty embedded in suits because the boss's protocol demands it, the Mozambicans ask the questions of substance. These questions reach the journalists, but like the joke that only reached the giraffe's ears after all the animals had heard it. txotis they've burst into laughter on time. So these fundamental questions are thrown at the commentators, but the answers aren't really up to them - they'll just be comments and opinions.

With an ounce of boldness running through his veins, the journalist even asks the questions that really should be asked of the government. But, as many may not know, journalists are "asked" to stick to the issues presented by the government spokesperson.

So how can journalists use their Intelligence Quotient to ask the right questions when they are surprised by an unknown agenda?

It's true that the journalist should be prepared to question the interviewee with topical questions, but this theory is valid when the topics of discussion are known to both parties. Think about it: why, when interviews are requested, do interviewees ask journalists for the topics of the interviews? In some cases, they even ask for the questions.

Do Ministers meet in Council without an agenda?

In the golden age of governments, an old-timer used to say: upon entering the press room, the government spokesman would first update journalists on the topics discussed by the ministers, and then, about 20 minutes later, hold the press conference. This was precisely to allow journalists some time to reflect on what they might hear, and to ask questions that were minimally prepared, and not improvised as has been the case in the briefings of recent governments.

In situations where unexpected issues arose, the Executive would take them on or take them on as Homework. At the next briefing, there was the surprise issue to be dealt with. And so the country "progressed".

In these recent governments, the information from the Executive is really "surprising" and, in return, the journalist responds to the stance. It's a complete and genuine mismatch of agendas.... 

Wearing a suit, shoes and tie is elegant, but the measurements of the clothing can adjust and cause discomfort when faced with marginal issues on the agenda. And it's not even vandalism, demonstrations or protests, it's surprises!

... perhaps the media will have to hire healers to avoid surprises at briefings...

Author: (Emmanuel Mocinha)