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Violence against journalists is embarrassing for govt – SACCORD

Violence against journalists is embarrassing for govt – SACCORD
Written by Mwala Kalaluka in Lusaka and Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Monday, August 03, 2009 12:14:35 AM

SACCORD yesterday noted that the battering of journalists by MMD cadres in front of party leaders and police is a manifestation of Zambia’s rapidly falling democratic and human rights credentials. And UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa has warned that the MMD will have itself to blame if UPND and PF youths mount serious counter-violence against the beating of journalists.

In a press statement following the political violence against journalists, Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda stated that it was not only irresponsible but also embarrassing for a government elected on democratic principles to condone violence against its journalists.

Last week, Post journalist Chibaula Silwamba and two others from the Times of Zambia were beaten by MMD cadres at Lusaka International Airport where they had gone to cover President Rupiah Banda’s return from a Smart Partnership Dialogue summit in Uganda.

“It is not only irresponsible but also embarrassing for a government elected to power on democratic principles to condone violence against its own journalists,” Habasonda stated.

He observed that such tendencies should be a concern for all peace-loving Zambians who should condemn the wanton behaviour by MMD cadres.

“There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for the political cadres to use force to remedy their situation with the media because the country has moved away from Stone Age politics to civilisation and politics of free engagement,” Habasonda stated. “We feel that cadres are being used to instill fear and intimidate citizens who have contrary views from the government. In fact, we are aware that some of the cadres attacking journalists like Thomas Nsama from The Post are actually identifiable and nothing has been done and even Dickson Jere who is the Press Aide for the President is a witness to these attacks.”

Habasonda further noted that the attacks had persisted on journalists who worked for both public and private media.

“As the Speaker of the National Assembly, Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, has stated, the deliberate and blatant attacks by these cadres on journalists only adds to the view that Zambia is slowly becoming a dangerous place to live. The continued assaults on journalists by political party functionaries is seriously denting the country’s image not only at home but abroad and lends credence to a recent report that Zambia has recorded a slide on the CIDCIM peace index,” Habasonda stated.

“We demand that the cadres involved, in the past and now, be arrested immediately and taken to court for their action. The law must take its course regarding these injustices and brutal violent attacks on defenseless journalists.”

Habasonda called on President Banda to show leadership and order further inquiry into these attacks.

“We further demand for an explanation and well prepared official public statement from the Honourable Ronnie Shikapwasha regarding the government policy towards media expression of divergent views and whether the police have been ordered not to protect journalists. This will help society on how all of us can be guided on how to conduct ourselves in the face of tacit unwritten policy of violence against the media,” he stated.

Habasonda said the cadres’ violence was likely to spill over to other dissenting voices and that SACCORD was aware of such manoevoures, which should be prevented at all costs.

“There should be tolerance for dissenting views. Any well-meaning government embraces checks and balances as well as criticism. A bad precedent is being set by these cadres who think that they control everyone. What these people forget is that their children and the future generation may be the victims with a different government,” Habasonda stated.

“What is even more worrying is the failure by the police to protect and guarantee security of these innocent journalists. For the police, if it is not incompetence of the highest order, what is their explanation for watching on while a crime was being committed? As if this was just a minor crime, not one bordering on the life of other fellow human beings they chose to ignore their calling to provide safety and security on needy journalists.”

Habasonda stated further that SACCORD had noted, with a sense of shock, that police and government officials had deliberately continued not to take action in relation to protecting the journalists on the basis of their own humanity whatever their revulsion against the journalists was.

“Our first president Dr Kenneth Kaunda refers to the biblical dictum of love your neighbor just as yourself at almost every function that he speaks at where our leaders and police are ever present but alas what happened are actions that are far from heeding this constant counsel and this is terribly scary,” stated Habasonda. “The question that begs the answer is what type of state are we building? Are we back to a vigilante state? What is really happening to our country? It is shameful to have a leadership that cannot act when injustice is being done. It is unacceptable and dangerous for the country to be held captive to political cadres because it undermines the rule of law and destroys the respect, order and peaceful coexistence. As SACCORD, we are in solidarity with journalists that are being violently beaten and we shall support all efforts that ensure that the principle of non-violence prevails in our country.”

And commenting on Lusaka Province MMD youth chairman Chris Chalwe’s declaration that party cadres would continue sorting out Post journalists in their own way, Kalusa said there were many young people in Zambia who were unemployed and would be happy to be recruited to batter MMD cadres.

“I will be meeting with my colleague the youth chairman of PF to see how we can offer defence to journalists and other Zambians who are being attacked by MMD militias,” Kalusa said.

He said it was not new for police not to do anything about violence perpetrated by the MMD and that this had happened during the Nchanga by-election in 2007.

“I want to warn MMD. Let them not continue with anarchy,” Kalusa said. ”…this country belongs to all of us and if we rise, we are in numbers; there are so many youths who are not doing anything and they would be happy to be recruited to hit back. I am appealing to the government, the Church to stop this thuggery.”

Kalusa said going by Chalwe’s utterances, the ruling MMD had legalised the beating of journalists.

“It’s no longer a secret that MMD within their circles have passed a law legalising the beating of journalists following the revelations of Lusaka Province MMD youth chairman Chris Chalwe,” said Kalusa.

During a CBC Television special interview on Thursday night, Chalwe said going to the courts of law to complain against The Post was a waste of time.

Labels: CADRES, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, PRESS FREEDOM, SACCORD

posted by MrK @ 11:15 PM