Maravi

The media is there to inform not to insult, says Kunda

The media is there to inform not to insult, says Kunda
Written by Mutuna Chanda and Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Sunday, May 31, 2009 4:02:48 PM

THE media is there to inform on facts not to insult, Vice-President George Kunda has lectured. And MMD Copperbelt Province chairman Joseph Chilambwe has said The Post should stop insulting President Rupiah Banda for its journalists not to be harassed by MMD cadres. Meanwhile, MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande has accused the Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia of not helping the MMD.

Addressing MMD cadres at Lowenthal Theatre in Ndola yesterday, Vice-President Kunda in apparent reference to The Post, said it had cartels of sources whom it went to, to generate insults.

"Printing of insults in the newspaper; some of our private media have cartels of sources who they go to, to generate insults," Vice-President Kunda said. "We have people like Dr [Ludwig] Sondashi I have not responded to his insults, he is an old man. He is a traditional healer; I am not insulting him I am stating a fact. Every day in The Post he insults me or President Banda but we'll continue to respect him. Let him continue practicing medicine in the manner that he wants. Dr Sondashi was a family friend, all of a sudden he's changed. I still consider him as an elder brother."

Vice-President Kunda said the government was committed to media freedom and would remain tolerant.

"Private radio stations are also churning insults," Vice-President Kunda said as some cadres in the back of the theatre responded "Icengelo! Icengelo!"

He said Zambia had very good journalists who were well trained.

"Let's embrace ethics," he said. "Those who write insults let's follow ethics; let's respect each other."

Vice-President Kunda said there was an organised crime syndicate, which was feasting on public resources.

He said the government wanted to get rid of organised crime that was abusing public funds.

He said President Banda had a vision which went beyond 2011.

"His Excellency President Rupiah Banda has a vision and he needs more time," he said. "We need more time beyond 2011. We can only achieve this if we come together."

He further urged MMD cadres to come up with viable projects to benefit from the Citizens Economic Empowerment funds.

Vice-President Banda said MMD would flush out those who were not genuine members.

He urged those who were not sure about MMD to join what he termed as smaller parties.

And Chilambwe demanded that The Post stop insulting President Banda if it wanted its journalists not to be harassed by MMD cadres.

"Every day the headline it's Rupiah, every day they are insulting President Rupiah Banda and the Vice-President," he said. "As cadres we accept your complaint that we should stop harassing you. If you want us to stop harassing you then you should stop insulting our President. Would they want to be insulted if they become presidents? Nichi fye Lesa aba, abafilya tabateka [It's just that God is good, such people can never rule]."

Chilambwe challenged the state media to condemn quarters of the press that were insulting President Banda.

And Kaande demanded that the media report correctly about President Banda's administration.

"We are not against the press, we are just saying 'write the truth about MMD, write the truth about Rupiah Banda, write the truth about Kunda, write the truth about Jeff Kaande', respect the leadership," Kaande said. "The most unfortunate part is that Daily Mail and Times of Zambia if they are here, you are not helping us also even though you are ours...for the past six months we are just reading 'Rupiah Banda', 'George Kunda must resign', 'Jeff Kaande is giving money to cadres.' Hmmm there's no other news? We have leaders in this country where when they just wake up he is insulting at lunch time he is insulting at night he is insulting even in his dreams he is insulting. Is that not news? We have restrained our cadres from chasing you from our meetings but stop provoking them, stop provoking us."

Kaande also said government ministers and their deputies had agreed to visit MMD structures after carrying out government functions wherever they went.

Earlier, police in Ndola detained MMD provincial youth secretary Evans Kapalu after he insulted Ndola deputy police commanding officer Anderson Chengo and told him that the party would chase the police from the premises where Vice-President Kunda was meeting the MMD provincial executive before addressing cadres.

This was after Chengo counselled an MMD cadre only known as Chama who was threatening to beat Post reporter Abigail Chaponda.

Chama initially wanted to stop Post photojournalist Abel Mambwe from taking a photo of him and another MMD cadre who were lifting their colleague who caused confusion in the hall before Vice-President Kunda went in.

After lifting the cadre out of the hall, Chama accused The Post of being stupid and pointed at Chaponda and threatened her in full view of police officers.

"Ici cine ice fumo ndechuma mucilufumo [This pregnant one, I'll beat her in her stomach]," Chama said.

Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, JOSEPH CHILAMBWE, PRESS FREEDOM

posted by MrK @ 3:06 PM