Maravi

Bring bills to Parliament, Syakalima challenges ‘outgoing’ MMD govt

Bring bills to Parliament, Syakalima challenges ‘outgoing’ MMD govt
By Kabanda Chulu
Sun 15 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT

SIAVONGA member of parliament Douglas Syakalima has challenged what he termed as the ‘outgoing’ MMD government to bring bills to Parliament that will allow them to walk freely on their way out in 2011.

And information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has described Sinazongwe parliamentarian Raphael Muyanda as a chameleon for changing his position on media regulation, claiming that three months ago Muyanda advocated for statutory regulation.

Contributing to debates on the 2010 estimates of revenue and expenditure for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services on Thursday, Syakalima dared government to bring the media bill to Parliament so that it could be pierced through and torn to pieces.

“It is undesirable to statutory regulate the media and this is the beginning of the government’s dictatorial tendencies. Even in Zimbabwe they did it but now they are trying to reform, so what kind of behaviour is this from this government? When in government don’t bring in bad laws but instead bring in good laws that will allow you to walk freely in 2010 and protecting you in future and it is extremely important for this government since it is on its way out in two years time,” Syakalima said.

“When unpopular, governments bring draconian laws that target individuals but this will backfire since the MMD government is standing on sinking sand and it should not think of bringing the media bill but since they are stubborn let them bring it and we shall pierce it through and tear it to pieces until it dies.”

He advised government to be careful on its proposed statutory regulation of the media because it would affect everyone including those outside the media.
“Even Hitler did it, starting with the media then the Protestants, Catholics and many others and it seems this government does not know the meaning of insults and what they want to regulate.

Is it how they report or what they report because if the media reports that this one is a son of Satan does it mean they have insulted?” Syakalima asked. “In fact, it is the state owned media which is insulting our intellect by covering only government officials when all people pay K3,000. So government must leave the private media alone since we get facts from them and government media is starving us with information. Besides the private media do not use our money but this state owned media relies on our funds.”

But Lt Gen Shikapwasha argued that media reforms were necessary to bring sanity to the industry and there was nothing about dictatorial tendencies in countries where there was statutory regulation.

“Dictators can be seen in many what they are doing, like Hitler produced a book when rising to power and compare this with the PF manifesto and some media institutions which are making propagandas and we believe regulation is important whether self or statutory even in the USA, UK or Botswana but they do not insult the President or government leaders so we shall bring this bill for MPs to debate it,” said Lt Gen Shikapwasha. “And MPs like Muyanda should stick to principles when debating. They should not change like chameleons.”

And Chasefu parliamentarian Chifumu Banda said self regulation was the best for the media and they should make proposals on how to regulate themselves.
Matero legislator Faustina Sinyangwe said no media had a right to insult.
“If others do not feel it when referred to as idiots, I feel it since no one has a right to insult others. Yes, media should enjoy freedoms but not to insult and if not responsible, they should be regulated,” Sinyangwe said.
Works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti said the cheap media propaganda should not be tolerated and that it would be naive for the government not to have a mouthpiece.

“Government should have a way of informing its people and when government leaders officiate at an event that is news and it should have full coverage,” Mulongoti said.

Luapula member of parliament Peter Machungwa said he supported statutory regulation because self regulation had failed in Zambia.

Labels: DOUGLAS SYAKALIMA, PARLIAMENT

posted by MrK @ 9:45 AM