(LUSAKATIMES) MMD was misled by public media- Lubinda

MMD was misled by public media- Lubinda
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, October 2, 2011, 10:28 am

The Patriotic Front government has stated that it will not allow the public media to mislead the party. PF spokesperson Given Lubinda says that the public media managed to mislead the people that the MMD government was popular, when in fact was not.

He says that the PF government will ensure that every person is covered, irrespective of the political affiliation. He says that the party does not want to operate the way the MMD operated the public media, where it was decieved that it was very popular.

Mr. Lubinda added that the voiceless in the country should also be given the opportunity to air out their views.

Mr. Lubinda has stated that the PF government will ensure that professionalism and sanity is brought in the media.

And two Media bodies have commended newly-appointed Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda’s pledge to prioritise the enactment of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill, saying it has been long overdue and it will enable journalists perform professionally.

Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) president Anthony Mulowa said in an interview yesterday that his organisation welcomed the assurance by the new minister to enact the FOI Bill into law.

Mr Mulowa said once enacted into law, FOI Bill would not only enable journalists work efficiently but that it would also positively contribute to the country’s governance process.

“As ZUJ, we welcome the assurance by Mr Lubinda that the Government would enact the FOI Bill into law. This is a highly commendable move.

Our appeal is that its enactment should be expedited as it is one Bill that will enhance the country’s governance process by promoting transparency and accountability in the management of resources and thus contribute to national development.

“Journalists must embrace this opportunity and ensure that they perform to the expectation of the public,” he said.

He said it was therefore imperative that media personnel in public media should take advantage of the good will by the PF Government to exercise their talent to the fullest so that the public was well informed.

He noted also that there was need to improve the conditions of service for journalists from the public media to be motivated.

Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) president Andrew Sakala in welcoming Mr Lubinda’s sentiments said the move had been the media’s outcry for a long time.

“The enactment of the FOI Bill has been long overdue. Therefore, as PAZA, we welcome all measures aimed at promoting press freedom,” he
said.

Mr Sakala also appealed to Mr Lubinda to ensure that the Independent Broadcasting Act (IBA) and the ZNBC Act were operational as well by taking them back to Parliament for amendment and that that should be done through a publicprocess.

He added that as the new Government revisits the Constitution making process, the Minister should consider and support the media recommendations in the Mung’omba draft Constitution.

[QFM/Times of Zambia]