Nairobi — Editors from different parts of Africa have resolved to speak with one voice when it comes to matters of press freedom across the continent.

This was the consensus of the two days third biennial African Editors Conference held in Nairobi early this week.

Organised by The African Editors Forum (TAEF),whose headquarters are in South Africa,and hosted by The Kenya Editors Guild,the workshop brought together about 40 editors across the breadth of Africa.

"One of the projects we want to undertake is the compilation of laws that impinge on the freedom of the press in Africa and in that context,we will visit each and every country and talk to the highest authorities over these laws," said TAEF chairperson Mathatha Tsedu.

The forum heard accounts after accounts of horrors faced by African journalists,especially from Western Africa.

Musa Saidykhan,a Gambian editor now living in exile in Senegal for instance,narrated a heart rendering tale of how he courted death by writing the truth that his government didn't appreciate until he decided to flee when he was tipped about a plan that was to end his life.

Gambia remains amongst the worst-case scenario where freedom of the press and protection of journalists is concerned.

Similarly,Hinda Mohamud Hussein of the Associated Somali Journalists said in her country,which has no organised government,"violations on journalists range from intimidation,torture to death."

Ugandan as well as Rwandese editors also complained of constant intimidations by their respective governments over reportage that their governments deemed to be critical of the state.

Tanzania was praised for being amongst the countries enjoying a relatively high degree of press freedom especially since the advent of the fourth phase government.

However,some of the sticking points in ensuring a totally healthy media environment mentioned included bad laws,such as article 37 of the PCCB Act that bars journalists from writing matters under PCCB investigation.

Others include the controversial Information Bill,the planned amendments to the Newspaper Act as well as a plan to introduce a law that limits ownership of media outlets by foreign investors.

Withholding of government advertising for media perceived to be critical of the government,as well as subtle threats to individual journalists by some politicians as well as media owners close to the government remains another major challenge for independent and honest Tanzanian journalists.

Tsedu told the gathering that TAEF's mandate also includes issuing statements when violations of the media in Africa take place and once African editors are better organised,this mandate will be put into place.

The conference saw the birth of the Eastern African Editors Forum under the leadership of David Makali of the Media Institute of Kenya. The forum will consist of Editors Forums from Tanzania,Kenya,Uganda,Rwanda,Burundi,Somalia,Ethiopia and Eritrea.

This forum,along with the Western African Editors Forum,Central African Editors Forum,Northern African Editors Forum as well as Southern African Editors Forum makes up TAEF.

Furthermore,Tsedu said TAEF will encourage networking of African editors such that dependence on foreign news copy by the African media is reduced significantly.

"African stories must be told by an African to Africans. What stops an editor from South Africa to call an editor from Tanzania,for example,during CCM elections,and ask for a story? Why should South African public be informed by foreigners of what is happening in Tanzania?" Tsedu told Sunday Citizen.

Capacity of journalists to tell well-researched and balanced stories as well as corruption within the media,the workshop heard,remain major challenges within the African media fraternity that must be addressed as a matter of priority.

TAEF was formed in 2005 in South Africa following South African President Thabo Mbeki's challenge to African media to unite.

Welcoming editors to the second biennial African Editors Conference in Johannesburg in 2005,Mbeki said the impact of modern communications was that journalists were the ones who set the pace,who created conditions for decisions to be taken by making information available quickly.

"The African media becomes more critical - to help Africans understand one another better so that when they work together,it is not on the basis of insufficient or bad information."

West Africa was chosen to be the hosts of the next TAEF meeting in 2008.