Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) PF government will never interfere in the operations of any media organization-Lubinda

PF government will never interfere in the operations of any media organization-Lubinda
TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 2:28 pm

Information, Broadcasting and Tourism minister Given Lubinda has reiterated that the Patriotic Front government has never and will never harbor intentions of interfering with the operations of the media.

Mr. Lubinda says the PF government will never interfere in the operations of any media organization, not even the public media.

He says government believes that journalists once given the leeway are capable of operating professionally.

Mr. Lubinda notes that media organizations are capable of finding the balance for their news,hence can not be criticized for not covering any politician regardless of political affiliation.

and radio Q-FM Managing director Asan Nyama says the current PF government has an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the previous government in dealing with the media in the country.

Mr. Nyama says the previous government failed to initiate policies that would have benefited the stakeholders in the media in the area of coverage.

He says under the previous MMD government, the state attempted to transform the private media into state run media by dictating the operations of most private radio stations including QFM.

Mr. Nyama recalls that most private media houses that covered opposition political parties were perceived as enemies of the MMD government.

He says it is therefore important for the Patriotic Front government to leave a legacy by ensuring that the freedom of information bill is enacted.

Mr. Nyama has further stated that if former vice president George Kunda allowed the freedom of information bill to be passed in parliament during the MMD’s rule, he would not be complaining about coverage by the public media.

QFM

Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, PF

posted by MrK @ 8:48 PM