Maravi

Government nods ZAMEC launch

Government nods ZAMEC launch
By Bright Mukwasa
Sun 01 Jan. 2012, 13:56 CAT

THE government has allowed the media to launch the Zambia Media Ethics Council ZAMEC without the approval by the Minister of Information Broadcasting and Tourism Given Lubinda like the case was under the MMD regime.

Lubinda said during an interactive evening with journalists on Friday night at Southern Sun hotel that the government had also set aside K1 billion for the operationalisation of the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

"As an ardent proponent of press freedom, the PF government continues to commit ourselves to ensuring that the Freedom of Information legislation and the Independent Broadcasting Authority as well as the Zambia Media Council come to fruition. Some might argue that we are dragging our feet, let me allay all those fears; we are not dragging our feet. With regard to ZAMEC, launch it tomorrow and invite me to be guest of honour, I would very happy to come," Lubinda said.

He also said a team at his ministry had already prepared all the paper work and would soon announce names of members of IBA.

Lubinda said it was not his government's responsibility to make sure which media organisation joined the media ethics body but would leave that to respective media house to decide on their own.

He said government was not dragging its feet on the implementation laws meant to reform the operations of the media.

The media ethics body was born after the MMD government threats of statutory regulation of the media in the country accusing them of abusing the self-regulation mechanism.

And Lubinda said the government was on a journey to deliver more than it had in the 90 days it had been in power.

"This is an open secret, even the donor community have opened their bag much more than they have done before. There's much more money coming in Zambia in form of grants than ever before because they too are convinced that the government of President Michael Sata is delivering on its promises."

Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, MEDIA, MMD, ZAMEC

posted by MrK @ 5:34 PM