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LAZ urges ZNBC to stop flouting the law

LAZ urges ZNBC to stop flouting the law
By Bright Mukwasa
Sun 03 July 2011, 04:01 CAT

LAZ has urged ZNBC to stop flouting the law in the manner it is currently covering national affairs.

In a press statement on the non-compliance of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) to the ZNBC Act chapter 154 of the Laws of Zambia, Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Musa Mwenye stated that LAZ had observed with growing concern the unbalanced coverage of national affairs by ZNBC.

“As an association of lawyers whose office demands us to uphold the law and protect the Constitution, we have been compelled to highlight the foregoing because we cannot sit idly by while the law and the rule of law is being flouted,” Mwenye stated.

“LAZ is hopeful that our appeal will receive favourable consideration from those who have a legal duty to attend to the concerns highlighted in this statement. We are in the meantime exploring other options available to enforce the rights of the general public and this may include the institution of public interest proceedings in the event that our concerns do not meet favourable consideration,” he stated.

“LAZ is of the view that the manner in which ZNBC is airing news and current affairs is in conflict and contrary to the provisions of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Act chapter 154 of the Laws of Zambia (the ZNBC Act) whose provisions are supposed to regulate the way ZNBC operates. The situation is compounded by the fact that ZNBC currently has no board of directors and continues to operate without a board of directors, contrary to the law,” Mwenye stated.

“The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has observed with growing concern that the news and coverage of national affairs by the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation is unbalanced and mostly skewed towards coverage of opinions and activities of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) to the exclusions of other stakeholders whose opinions are not given the requisite coverage. In addition, LAZ has also observed that ZNBC has aired libel and slander in its news and current affairs without respect for the right of persons who are the subject of the publication to respond, “stated Mwenye.

Mwenye further stated that the appointing authority should ensure that a ZNBC board of directors consisting of persons committed to fairness, freedom of expression, openness and accountability was appointed without delay pursuant to the provisions of section 4 of the ZNBC Act.

“The provisions of the ZNBC Act which require the board to be representative of a broad section of the population of Zambia must be complied with in this regard,” he stated.

Mwenye stated that section 7 of the ZNBC Act required ZNBC to provide varied, balanced programming and broadcast comprehensive, unbiased and independent news and current affairs.

He stated that ZNBC should clearly distinguish what was news, what was commentary and to serve public rather than partisan interests.

Mwenye stated that ZNBC ought to meet high professional quality standards and to contribute to the development of free and informed opinions and as such constitute an important element of the democratic process.

He stated that ZNBC must reflect as comprehensively as possible, the range of political, philosophical opinions and to reflect and promote Zambia’s diversity and unity.

Mwenye stated that ZNBC must contribute to the tolerance of different opinions, beliefs and defend democratic freedoms.

He stated that management of the ZNBC should adhere to the provisions of the ZNBC Act.

Labels: LAZ, MEDIA, MUSA MWENYE, ZNBC

posted by MrK @ 5:22 PM