Maravi

AVAP describes abuse of public media as shameful

AVAP describes abuse of public media as shameful
By Brina Manenga
Tue 31 May 2011, 03:40 CAT

THE abuse of the public media is a shame to the Zambian people, says AVAP.
Bonnie Tembo, the Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) executive director, said it was unfortunate that the public media was being used as a campaign tool for the MMD when it was meant for all Zambians of different political affiliation.

“It is a shame the way the public media is being used by the MMD. The people of Zambia are even made to pay K3,000 per month, for what?

That is why people have now shunned watching ZNBC because it is all government propaganda,” said Tembo during a discussion on Mobi TV’s Open Forum on Sunday night.

He said Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) had not adhered to its promise of giving equal coverage to all political parties.

“Zambians have an ownership of the public media because they are taxpayers to these institutions. ZNBC promised that it will accord equal airtime to all political parties but we have not seen that happening. What we see are documentaries of the MMD,” Tembo said.

“We cannot say anything about the private media because we do not know your editorial policies. We do not pay anything to you people.

However, the public media is owned by Zambians, they have an ownership. What the public media is doing is wasting your money and my money.”
On the election date, Tembo said President Rupiah Banda’s delay in announcing the election date would negatively affect the opposition political parties’ preparations for the exercise.

“The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) even know that they will have elections on the 28th of November 2011. Unfortunately for us the date is in the briefcase. The President says he will announce the election date when he is ready. It does not work like that.

If people are told the election date early it makes people ready because they know when they are going to the polls,” said Tembo.

Labels: AVAP, MEDIA, SEPARATION OF POWERS

posted by MrK @ 6:07 PM