Rupiah’s aide expels ZANIS photographer from New York

Rupiah’s aide expels ZANIS photographer from New York
Written by Staff Reporter
Friday, September 25, 2009 5:13:52 PM

STATE HOUSE special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere has barred ZANIS photographer Emmah Nakapizye from covering President Rupiah Banda at the UN General Assembly in New York.

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.

“What happened is that Dickson seems to have a problem with Emma ever since she took those pictures of the President with FDD president Edith Nawakwi at the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia as well as the pictures that were taken of President Banda and his family in Mfuwe,” the source explained.

“Dickson took an issue with Emmah over that claiming that the pictures were maliciously taken. But Emmah tried to explain to her superiors that Ms Nawakwi was part of the Presidential delegation and she was seated with the President and that no one informed her that she was not to photograph certain people in the delegation.”

The source said Nakapizye is viewed by certain quarters, particularly at State House, as being anti-establishment.

“Dickson doesn't want her to be covering the President at all because of those two incidences; the issue of Ms Nawakwi and the Banda family holiday in Mfuwe. But it's now getting too much because just recently Emmah was enlisted on the delegation that was travelling to the UN General Assembly in New York to go and cover the President,” the source said.

“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.”

The sources said there were even plans by ZANIS management to transfer Nakapizye to another district.

“After the AU summit incident of Ms Nawakwi and the Mfuwe one, everybody thought that the dust had settled and Emmah would now be allowed to cover the President. But it's like Dickson has taken it personal,” the source explained.

“Can you believe that there is so much pressure on ZANIS management? The pressure is too much that management is even considering transferring Emmah to some district probably Kafue just because Dickson doesn't want her at Mass Media Complex. This is quite unfair.”

When contacted yesterday, ZANIS director Gilbert Maimbo referred all queries to State House.

“I think the best people to answer that question is State House,” said Maimbo.