Post journalists scoop SACCORD media awards

Post journalists scoop SACCORD media awards
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 18 Apr. 2010, 04:40 CAT

Post journalist Jack Zimba receives the 2009 SACCORD best print human rights reporter award at Lusakas’s Chrismar Hotel (Inset, Thomas Nsama as Best Photographer)

POST employees Jack Zimba and Thomas Nsama on Friday scooped the best print reporter and photographer respectively in the Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) 2009 human rights media awards.

Zimba grabbed a double, first as best print reporter for his feature article on the acquittal of Post news editor Chansa Kabwela who was facing a pornography case in the Lusaka magistrates court between July and November last year.

In the article, Zimba outlined circumstances leading to Kabwela’s arrest for alerting government authorities on the plight of people following a countrywide strike by health workers.

Kabwela had sent the pictures of a woman about to deliver a baby just outside the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) to Vice-President George Kunda but President Rupiah Banda later described the pictures as pornographic and ordered for the arrest of the photographer.

Kabwela was subsequently arrested and prosecuted allegedly circulating obscene material.

However, on November 19, 2009 Kabwela was acquitted by Lusaka chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda on grounds that she was fighting a noble cause, which did not warrant any pornography.

Zimba also walked away with the overall best print reporter on human rights award.

Nsama scooped the best photographer award, based on his picture published in The Post last year where police were captured beating up opposition Patriotic Front (PF) supporters outside Supreme Court grounds.

The PF had accompanied their leader Michael Sata when he went to petition the outcome of the 2008 Presidential election.

The picture showed police beating up people, including women with babies.
Veteran broadcaster Felistus Chipako scooped the best TV reporter for her documentary on the plight of children in Zambia that was aired on Lusaka’s Muvi Television.

The best radio reporter went to Lesley Sinyangwe from the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.

Earlier officiating at the function, Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (Hivos) country representative Grace Manyonga observed that injustices against citizens eroded their participation in national matters.

“We encourage and facilitate for initiatives that empower citizens to enjoy their rights because we strongly believe this is a panacea for their free participation in various democratic processes. Injustices and other rights violations that take place tend to erode the confidence of the citizens,” Manyonga said.

“This in essence regresses the unity and free will of the citizens to participate. It has been proved worldwide that when human rights are observed, citizens tend to be free to participate and interact with the leadership in fostering development. We hope that these awards will encourage reporters and media houses alike to increase their coverage of human rights issues.”

SACCORD executive director Lee Habasonda observed that promoting human rights without freeedom of information made the work of journalists difficult.

“It is a well recognised fact that stability, social and cultural cohesion and structure for democracy are essential strategies for trade, international cooperation and national development. One key element of these strategies is independent journalism and free media, which provides bedrock for democratic exchange and respect for human rights. By exposing violations of human rights, the media can help in improving the climate for democratic debates and reduce corruption in public life,” said Habasonda.

“At the same time media sensitivity to human rights provides reliable sources of information through which citizens, human rights groups, private organisations and government institutions can work together to promote development and to eliminate human rights abuses. Promotion of human rights without freedom of information makes the work of journalists in highlighting both success and violations in human rights very difficult. SACCORD also believes that state regulation of the media may equally contribute to the ineffectiveness of the media in trying to ensure that it plays its role as a watchdog on behalf of the citizens.

While we realise the need for responsible journalism, we strongly feel state regulation defeats the essence of a free press in Zambia.”