Media associations condemn Jere’s behavior

Media associations condemn Jere’s behavior
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Saturday, September 26, 2009 6:11:41 PM

MEDIA associations yesterday condemned Dickson Jere for mistreating and sending away Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) photojournalist Emmah Nakapizye from the ongoing UN general assembly in New York, USA.

In a joint media statement, media associations expressed their utmost displeasure at the manner in which Nakapizye had been treated by President Rupiah Banda's press aide Jere.

"We further reiterate that we believe that Ms Nakapizye was carrying out her job as a professional photojournalist and to be treated in such a manner is tantamount to curtailing her freedom of expression and muzzling the press. Further, Mr Jere knows very well that in the absence of respect for the right of freedom of expression, which include rights to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, democracy is compromised," the seven media associations stated.

"Media organisations do need to remind those in public offices that they are public officials and therefore they are accountable to the people and when we carry out stories that do not seem to be palatable to them we are called 'gagged'. The government should not think we shall take this lying down, we shall continue to fight for freedom of information and the media."

The media associations that issued the statement include Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia, Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA), United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Press Association of Zambia (PAZA), Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), PANOS and Zambia Union of Broadcasters and Information Disseminators (ZUBID).

And in a separate statement, the Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) stated that it was shocked that Jere allowed his emotions rather than reason to make judgement and "expel" Nakapizye from New York.

The PFC stated that Jere's action did not only amount to gagging the media but also a direct infringement of Nakapizye's freedom of expression.

They stated that Jere's thinking belonged to the Stone Age and authoritarian rule where divergent views or distasteful images would be treated as a taboo to the ruler.

"We do not understand why and how Jere found the photographs of President Banda and opposition FDD [Forum for Democracy and Development] leader Edith Nawakwi at the African Union Summit offending to society or even President Banda himself. What was Jere hiding from the taxpayers in Zambia who sponsored President Banda's trip to the United Nations assembly in New York since he didn't want Nakapizye to capture his images?" the PFC asked.

"As a media watchdog committee, we are keenly watching who will pay back the travel expenses incurred by Ms Nakapizye arising from this reckless and senseless decision. We wish to urge Mr Jere to exercise utmost humility while President Banda can still allow him to walk the corridors of State House."

State House sources disclosed that Jere last week instructed officials in New York to ensure that Nakapizye was sent back home before President Banda arrived there.

"Dickson inquired about the journalists and photographers that were assigned for the New York trip and when he learnt that Emmah was among them, he contacted New York and instructed that the President should not find her there, that she must be put on the next flight back to Zambia. That's how Emmah was sent back and she is in the country right now as we are speaking," said the source.