Govt refuses to disclose cost of ‘Media Fenda’ setup

The President’s Office continues to refuse to disclose the cost of setting up the ‘Media Fenda’ – a dedicated facility that it said was designed to improve media access to government information – but was shut down mere months later.

The facility, a small grandstand built across from the President’s Office, was inaugurated by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on May 29. But it was shut down on September 14, after journalists began staging serial protests there against the contentious new media laws.

The President’s Office said at the time that the Media Fenda was being used by unauthorized individuals posing as journalists to repeatedly flout the terms of the use of the facility.

“Some of the journalists authorized to use the facility have been complaining that there are unable to use the place to collect news and information,” wrote the President’s Office in a statement.

Sun wrote to the President’s Office the same day, asking for details regarding the cost of developing the facility, and to whom and how the project was contracted.

We also asked the President’s Office why they decided to set up the Media Fenda, whether it had entailed any research, and whether anyone had requested for such a facility.

We also requested details regarding the complaints lodged with the President’s Office that led to the decision to shut it down.

On October 6, the President’s Office said they needed more time to prepare that information, and got a 14-day extension.

But it has now been 48 days since the extended deadline passed.

The President’s Office has not provided the information, and nor has it provided any explanation for the delay.

The Media Fenda setup in front of the President’s Office was never used by journalists until in September, when it became the location for silent protests against the contentious media legislature.