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Publicly express commitment to press freedom, Reporters without Borders urge Rupiah

Publicly express commitment to press freedom, Reporters without Borders urge Rupiah
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe, Mwila Chansa and Jane Mwakasungula
Saturday, August 01, 2009 3:23:12 PM

REPORTERS Without Borders have urged President Rupiah Banda to use the incident where MMD cadres physically attacked journalists to publicly express his commitment to press freedom and to ensure that it is better respected from now on. And Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Stephen Lungu has condemned the continued attacks on journalists by MMD cadres.

Wednesday at the airport where Post and Times of Zambia journalists who went to cover President Banda were physically attacked, Reporters Without Borders deplored the incident.

They stated that the facts of incident were not disputed by President Banda, who condemned the assault.

"The President's comments are reassuring, but apologies are not enough and concrete measures are now needed," the organisation stated. "Sanctions must be adopted against the MMD supporters, who often attack journalists. We urge President Banda to take the opportunity offered by this unfortunate incident to publicly express his commitment to press freedom and to ensure that it is better respected from now on."

And Lungu said attacks on journalists should not be tolerated in a democratic country such as Zambia.

"As LAZ, we join the good meaning citizens in condemning the unwarranted attacks on journalists. Being a democratic country, we believe such violence should not be tolerated," Lungu said.

Lungu said journalists needed to enjoy a certain level of independence in the dispensation of their duties and that action should be taken against all the perpetrators of violence against journalists.

Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) said the harassment of journalists by political parties in the country had reached worrying levels and was a sign of lack of tolerance among political stakeholders especially the ruling party.

"Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) wishes to strongly condemn the continued harassment and intimidation of journalists by the MMD cadres. FODEP will not stand by and allow the destruction of the very pillars of democratic governance that we exist to promote because a democratic nation with no media freedom and a conducive operating environment for free expression is no democracy at all," said the organisation's executive director Elijah Rubvuta.

He reminded the MMD that journalists were the light and the voice of the masses in any democratic society as they reveal, through their reporting, hidden socio-economic and political mayhem that those in authority may not want to reveal for fear of losing their grip to power.

Rubvuta reminded political parties especially the ruling MMD and the police that one of the resolutions of 1993 World Conference on Human Rights was the demand for "increased involvement of the media for whom freedoms and protection should be guaranteed within the framework of the national law."

"The responsibility of protecting the physical security of everyone in Zambia including journalists rests with the government through the Police Service. It is therefore, appalling to note, as in this case that in a country like Zambia which has been renowned for being a pioneer of peaceful transition to multiparty democracy, journalists can be harassed by party cadres in the presence of the police officers and senior party leaders and go scot-free! Such levels of intolerance in political parties, especially MMD is very retrogressive, and we expect the party to rise to the occasion and put an end to this," he said.

He advised the police in the country to execute their duties in a professional manner and avoid being partisan because once they become political, it would be difficult for them to guarantee all Zambians security.

Rubvuta said the political parties and the police should be reminded about the importance of allowing journalists to go about their work unimpeded despite the alleged biased reporting.

"FODEP wishes to encourage journalists to remain steadfast and to understand their role and calling. They should bear in mind that sometimes violent campaigns will be carried out against journalists trying to report honestly and accurately," Rubvuta said.



And the International Fellowship of Christian Churches (IFCC) charged that President Banda had introduced barbaric politics by allowing his thugs to continue harrassing Post journalists.

IFCC president Bishop Simon Chihana urged President Banda to strongly condemn the practice, saying he should work towards continuing his predecessor's legacy of embracing and respecting the media.

Bishop Chihana said President Banda's silence on the practice was an indication that pepertrators had his blessings.

"The continued harassment is communicating a language of going back to the UNIP regime. People have nothing to do with violence in this era. Why can't he emulate his predecessor's stance towards the plight of journalists? He is barbaric and I am upset," he said.

Bishop Chihana said President Banda was practicing politics of poverty in a civilised society.

He urged African leaders to stop cadres from welcoming them whenever they attended official functions.

"I also urge other African leaders to stop encouraging cadres from welcoming them at airports or other official functions because America does not tolerate that," Bishop Chihana said.

And Zambia United Christian Action (ZUCA) Bishop John Jere said the country could not encourage brutality.

"It is his [President Banda] duty to protect citizens just like it is my duty to protect my flock from any forms of harassment," said Bishop Jere.

Last Wednesday, Post journalist Chibaula Silwamba was slapped and roughed up by MMD cadres at the airport where he went to cover the arrival of President Banda from Uganda.

Labels: REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:23 PM