PF gives ZNBC 7-day ultimatum for fair, equal coverage

PF gives ZNBC 7-day ultimatum for fair, equal coverage
By George Chellah
Wed 05 May 2010, 03:50 CAT

THE Patriotic Front (PF) has given the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) a seven-day ultimatum demanding fair and equal coverage failure to which they shall commence legal proceedings against the corporation in the High Court.

In a letter to the ZNBC acting director general dated May 3, 2010, which was also copied to the chairperson Electoral Commission of Zambia, Messrs Ellis and Company, Messrs Permanent Chambers, W M Kabimba and Company stated that ZNBC had continued to cover only members of the MMD.

“We act for the Patriotic Front in the above quoted matter. Our client is a registered political party in Zambia and one of the leading participants in the political affairs of the country including by-elections,” read the letter in part.

“It is our client’s instructions that although your corporation is a public institution and contrary to the Electoral Code of Conduct which governs the management of our elections, you have continued to cover only members of the ruling MMD and government officials during elections to the exclusion of the PF and other political parties.”

They stated that the policy of exclusion of opposition political parties and unfair coverage had greatly disadvantaged these parties.

“And also the citizens and voters who cannot follow the performance of these political parties to enable them to make informed decisions before and during elections.

This policy or practice on the part of your organisation is prejudicial to the interests of the members of opposition political parties and undecided voters who depend on the public television channel like ZNBC to make their democratic decisions,” the letter stated.

“In view of the above, we have been instructed to demand from your office a firm undertaking that you shall from the date of this letter as a matter of policy render fair and equal coverage of all political parties during the broadcasting of the news on television and radio stations unless where opposition political parties have offered to give no comment over a matter of public interest.

The said undertaking must reach our chambers within 7 days from the date hereof failure to which we have instructions to commence legal proceedings in the High Court of Zambia to seek appropriate remedies accordingly.”