A court in Pemba orders the return of equipment to a journalist, raising concerns about press freedom

After nearly three months of seizure, the court acknowledges that there is no longer any reason to retain the work equipment of reporter Estácio Valoi, in a case involving allegations of timber smuggling and environmental crimes.

The Pemba City Court this week ordered the immediate return of a computer, two mobile phones, and a tablet to journalist Estácio Valoi—equipment that had been seized for almost three months on suspicion of being linked to a journalistic investigation into alleged environmental crimes and timber trafficking connected to a Lebanese businessman.

Cited by MISA (Institute of Social Communication Media), the court revoked the precautionary measure based on a simple argument: the investigations that justified the seizure have already been completed. In other words, the court recognized that the prolonged detention was no longer justified.

For Valoi, the devices were not mere objects—they were extensions of his work. The computer held drafts, the tablet stored research, and the cell phones served as a link to confidential sources. During the three months without these tools, the journalist saw his ability to produce information drastically limited.

MISA, which has been closely following the case, does not hide its concern: "The prolonged seizure of work equipment directly affects the exercise of the profession and may have a inhibiting effect on future investigations," the organization warns.

Freedom of the press under scrutiny.

Beyond this specific case, the situation raises deeper questions: to what extent can the withholding of journalists' equipment be used as a form of pressure? The right to confidentiality of sources and the protection of investigative materials are pillars that, according to MISA, must be rigorously respected.

The Pemba court's decision is seen as a positive step, but the episode raises a warning: the line between criminal investigation and freedom of the press needs to be handled with balance and speed, so that journalism is not held hostage by processes that drag on.