Maravi

NCC adopts clause to protect journalists’ sources

NCC adopts clause to protect journalists’ sources
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Thursday, February 19, 2009 7:16:31 AM

THE human rights committee of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) yesterday adopted a clause in the constitution that will protect journalists from being compelled to disclose the source of their information.

During the ongoing sittings in Lusaka, members of the committee agreed that there was no need to compel journalists to disclose the source of their information.

Attempts by some commissioners to have the clause removed from the draft constitution were opposed.

Some members of the committee argued that the clause should be removed from the draft constitution because it only protected journalists.

But UPND's Joe Kalusa argued that there was need for the clause to be maintained in the draft constitution.

"The clause should stay because journalists have a duty to dig out information on the issues pertaining to the running of the country. But if we remove this clause, it will make the work of journalists very difficult," Kalusa said.

This prompted the chaiperson of the commitee Enock Mulembe to ask members to come out clearly on the matter.

The members then unanimously agreed that the clause should be maintained despite opposition from some people.

And the committee rejected a proposal by Lusaka lawyer Dr Patrick Matibini to reduce the voting age to 16 from 18.

Dr Matibini argued that a right to vote should be given to any person in possession of a National Registration Card (NRC).

"Since people get their NRCs at the age of 16, I propose that we reduce the voting age to 16 because everyone will be in possession of an NRC," Dr Matibini submitted.

But the proposal was opposed by all the members who said it would be difficult to allow a 16-year-old to vote since the committee had already considered that a person below the age of 16 was a child.

And the committee also adopted a clause that will allow both public and private media organisations to be independent and impartial.

The members also adopted a clause that provides for both private and public media organisations to provide for reasonable allocation of airtime and space to political party parties, either generally or during elections campaign.

The members argued that the private media should also be compelled to provide fair allocation of space and airtime.

But Nyambe Muyumbana and Mwangala Zaloumis said it was not in order to include the private media in the clause.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, JOURNALISM, NCC

posted by MrK @ 7:16 AM