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(LUSAKATIMES) PF has de-politicized newsrooms in public media – Tembo

PF has de-politicized newsrooms in public media – Tembo
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, October 30, 2011, 3:05 pm

Information Broadcasting and Tourism Deputy Minister Forrie Tambo says the Patriotic Front (PF) government has de-politicized newsrooms in the public media and enabled them to operate independently.

Mr. Tembo says government has taken a number of reforms since coming into office last month which have seen the public media operate independently. He stated that the changes that his government has taken in the media include changing of management at various public media institutions in the country.

He said the changes the government has made has resulted in the public media to stop operating as propaganda tool for government but give balanced coverage to different stakeholders.

He said the public were now testifying that the public media had become very objective adding that his government would not interfere in the running of the institutions.

“This is in line with the government vision of freeing the media in the efforts to have objective media,” he said.

Mr. Tembo who is MMD Nyimba Member of Parliament (MP) said this in parliament yesterday when debating the President’s speech during the official opening of the National Assembly.

The Deputy Minster has further said the merging of the Ministries of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources and Information and Broadcasting Services will also help the country to market its tourism potential.

He said the change has already shown results by making Zambia win the joint bid with Zimbabwe to co-host the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly in 2013.

The public media came under serious attack from stakeholders prior to last month’s general elections as it was accused of being biased and used as a tool for propaganda by the former MMD government.

ZANIS

Labels: DAILY MAIL, FORRIE TEMBO, MEDIA, PF, THE TIMES

posted by MrK @ 4:57 PM