(DAILY MAIL) MPs call for media regulation

MPs call for media regulation
By KASUBA MULENGA

PARLIAMENT yesterday adopted a report by the Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services with most members of the House calling for media regulation to ensure journalists do not disseminate information that can incite violence.

The parliamentarians observed that the alleged biased coverage of the recent Presidential election campaigns by some media houses was testimony that the media in Zambia could not operate without being controlled.

Gwembe MP, Brian Ntundu (UPND) said the information disseminated by some sections of the media during the campaigns confirmed that the media needed to be regulated.

He was contributing to a motion moved by Namwala MP, Robby Chizyuka (UPND), who appealed to members of the House to consider adopting the report.

“I was disappointed with media organisations that took the role of campaign managers for some political parties. We believe that journalists have ethics to follow,” Mr Ntundu said.

He said coverage of the campaigns made some parliamentarians become doubtful of some media houses.
Matero MP, Faustina Sinyangwe (PF), said it was shameful for a newspaper to publish information that could incite the public into becoming violent.

Mrs Sinyangwe said there should be a body to regulate community radio stations and called for training of journalists in those media organisations.

She said journalists ought to do what was right first regardless of the political party they supported.
Livingstone MP, Sakwiba Sikota (ULP) appealed to parliamentarians to debate the matter with a sober reflection to avoid enacting a law that might be regrettable in future.

Mr Sikota who boasted being an advocate of media freedom, however, said the presidential election campaigns coverage by some media houses made him have difficulties in defending freedom of the media any more.

“I am a firm believer of freedom of the press. At first I thought the press were going to regulate themselves but the recent coverage of campaigns made me have difficulties to continue defending press freedom,” he said.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Mike Mulongoti, said Government’s responsibility was to protect citizens and not to harm them.

Mr Mongoloti said although he valued freedom of the press, he supported that which was responsible.

He said he had never threatened any media organisation as minister in charge but only advised certain media houses to be responsible in their coverage by ensuring that they reported about issues factually.

“The media should exercise maximum control so that they can give the people useful information,” he said.
In winding up debate, Major Chizyuka thanked MPs for their contributions during the debate and for supporting his committee’s report.

Major Chizyuka hoped that Mr Mulongoti had heard the concerns raised by MPs and that he would understand their views and take them in the right context.