Catholic media was called to create a story that promotes the dignity of immigrants at the SIGNIS Africa workshop in Maputo

br. Alfonce Kugwa-Maputo

The workshop, which will be held from March 25th to 28th, 2025, aims to find empathic ways to tell stories about immigration and refugees.

Apart from the Catholic media, seven bishops include the Archbishop of Maputo, Archbishop Joao Carlos Hatoa Nunez. Bishop Antonio Manuel Bogaio Constantino Machi, chairman of the Social Communications Committee of the Bishops of Mozambique. And there was Bishop Bernadine Muhumbasa, bishop of Condoa Parish in Tanzania. Other bishops and government officials of Mozambique were also present.

Immigrants and refugees are of great concern to the government and the world, and the media needs to tell stories that promote their dignity and happiness. Therefore, a workshop for Catholic journalists to update their skills to cover people on the move.

Gospel Transformation Culture

In his opening remarks, Fr. President of Signis Africa. Walter Ihejirika said Signis Africa was energised by Signis' vision, which is to engage with media experts and support Catholic communicators to change the culture of people from a gospel perspective, by promoting human dignity, justice and reconciliation.

“The second impulse that led to this event is our belief that communication plays an integrative role in all human society. Mass media is seen as a hub of wheels that connects the various spokes that support it. Refugees,” the priest said. ihejirika.

Father Ihejirika paid tribute to Diecaster for communication, in support of Catholic media in the southern part of the world, to enable digital evangelization.

Immigration, stereotypes, algorithm bias

Millions of economic, political, social and religious immigrants have millions of economic, social and religious immigrants labelled refugees, aliens, or illegal settlers due to a lack of a common language to describe them.

Speaking about the “dimension of communication in the vision of the Church of Immigrants from an African perspective,” Bishop Mukhmbau reiterated that there is an algorithmic bias that has exacerbated conflict, poverty and illness, along with the promotion of stereotypes in dystopian society. He challenged Catholic communicators to come up with a better language that would give immigrants and refugees a face, dignity and integrity.

Bishop Mukhmbau highlighted that the factors that migrate spanned economic factors, human trafficking, crime syndicates and environmental challenges, and that there was a lot of bias, misinformation, malicious formation and misinformation in reports on immigration and refugees, and called on Catholic journalists to develop positive narratives.

“Digital media has an obligation to influence immigrant and refugee reports and as journalists, we have a duty to change the story and portray these people in a better and more appropriate way of looking at them,” Bishop Mfampusa said.

The bishop encouraged journalists to formulate stories of African Christianity influenced by Ubuntu in its immigrant and refugee coverage.

Immigration and human trafficking investigation

Giving insights into immigration and refugees, Mozambiquean TV investigative journalist Francisco Jr., lamenting Africa's trafficking, saying it was perpetuated by poverty, war, disasters, and lack of access to economic and natural resources. Juniors encourage travel with immigrants and refugees, promoting psychological and emotional support. He said church media has a major role in providing surveillance, reporting and support to people affected by human trafficking.

Other topics featured in the workshop include the experience of immigration in the Mozambikin Catholic Church and its impact on Catholic journalists, aspects of the church's vision of immigration in the Invisa region, and reports on immigration and professional reporting.