Maravi

MECOZ has not done much – LAZ

MECOZ has not done much – LAZ
Written by Ernest Chanda and Katwishi Bwalya
Friday, May 15, 2009 2:26:15 PM

THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) on Wednesday submitted to a parliamentary committee that the Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ) has not done much to promote understanding between the media and the public.

But tourism minister Catherine Namugala has insisted that the media in Zambia should be regulated by statute because they have failed to regulate themselves. Making the submission before a committee on Information and Broadcasting Services, LAZ honourary secretary Dr Overs Banda said MECOZ has not provided much arbitration.

“Evidence on the ground seems too indicate that Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ) has not done much to promote understanding between the media and the public. For example, one would ask as to how many radio, television programmes have been organised to promote understanding between the media and the public. More should be done as the opportunities are available for MECOZ to do that for the benefit of the country,” Dr Banda submitted.

“Our research does indicate very little if any has been done for the Media Council to arbitrate between the public and the media. If public debate through radio and television were conducted, issues for arbitration would arise. A lot of complaints have been raised but nothing has been done. For example, the position taken by one political party to deal with reporters physically wherever they appear does indicate that there has been no arbitration at all by the media council. Others have restored to court action to address their grievances.”

Dr Banda submitted that the media could contribute to political and economic stability if they were allowed to operate independently.

“This can be made possible if media is allowed to operate in an environment of freedom where there is little, or better, no interference of government in the practice of journalism, be in a public or private setting. The media must be allowed generally to entertain, inform and more importantly, educate the nation on daily occurrences in the society.

“If the media is used as a tool for dissemination of information on all matters that affect society, it can be an effective contributor to the political economic and cultural development of society,” submitted Dr Banda.

And Namugala maintained that the media in Zambia should be regulated by law because they have failed to regulate themselves.

“Honestly, in my opinion the media has failed to regulate itself. So as much as the media is calling for self regulation, I believe that it has failed to do that and we all agree that people's lives must be protected and in protecting the life of every Zambian, you must ensure that the media is regulated to some extent so that they do not violate the rights of individuals,” Namugala said. “The wish of everybody is that the media will effectively regulate itself but this has failed. It has not worked, so it is important that the media is regulated to some extent until the media is capable to make a case that they are able to regulate themselves. As it is now clearly you can read, you see around people's rights are being violated.”

Namugala said the media should be regulated to ensure that they do not over dramatise things and in order to preserve the peace that the country has been enjoying.

“Once an article has been written about an individual whether defamatory or not, it is very difficult for that person to correct what has been written about them and I think also in ensuring that our peace as Zambians prevail, we need to make sure that the media does not over dramatise, that the media does not incite society whether for or against. The media must serve to balance and to inform the members of the public on what is happening,” she said.

Namugala said the media of late had become the judge and putting the accused people in the dock.

“Where there is a good case for or against a person, the media's role is merely to inform and not to be judge and jury,” said Namugala . “It is not fair play and in my opinion I think there is need for the media to some extent to be regulated.”

Labels: CATHERINE NAMUGALA, LAZ, MECOZ

posted by MrK @ 1:28 PM