Sata tells ministers to Stick to procedure
By Joan Chirwa-Ngoma
Tue 31 Jan. 2012, 13:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has warned his ministers against making pronouncements that are not in line with government policy.
But economic consultant Professor Oliver Saasa says President Sata's statement signals the lack of coordination in the government, cautioning that there must be careful consultation among stakeholders before salary hikes are effected for public workers to avoid overstressing the economy.
In apparent reference to recent announcements of salary increments by government officials, President Sata cautioned ministers and other government officials against taking approaches that were away from established procedure.
"Ministers and government officers should not resort to arbitrary positions which can only induce loss of confidence in the country and in the process undermine progress which is essential and crucial to achieving poverty alleviation and reduction within the shortest time possible," President Sata said in a press release issued by State House deputy Press Secretary Amos Chanda.
"Government style and policy is to discuss with employers and workers, matters of mutual interest following the statutory channels and procedures. To this effect, some of the approaches pursued by individuals in government are adrift with established procedure. Labour unions are free to bargain with employers on salary or wage settlements as by law established."
President Sata said employers must guard against inflationary pressures when adjusting salaries for their workers.
"In the interest of the economy, the President's guidance, save for the special case of workers in the medical sector, is that the salary adjustments stay as close to inflation as possible. This is necessary to avoid triggering inflationary spirals which would then render salary increases futile," said President Sata.
Last week, labour minister Chishimba Kambwili announced in Ndola that the government had increased salaries for all health workers by 100 per cent, a decision that has the potential of triggering inflationary pressures on the local economy.
Kambwili said the pay rise would boost morale among health workers across the country.
But Prof Saasa, in an interview, said the principle behind salary increments for health workers was not bad except that the decision may pose serious fiscal challenges on the government.
"Is he President Sata thinking twice about it? It is government's duty to ensure they health workers are properly remunerated. The principle is not bad. But how much salaries go up should go with how much the government is able to pay. If you don't work this out, it will be a serious fiscal challenge. If you are passing too much money suddenly, all people will do is to peg their prices a little bit higher because people's purchases power has increased," he warned.
"The capacity of the government needs to be weighed to be able to handle the up-scaled salaries…Government shouldn't overstress the economy to a level where it might get depressed. Consultation is essential in the government."
Prof Saasa said President Sata's statement signals that there is little or no coordination in the government to a point where some ministers could make pronouncements that have far-reaching consequences on the economy.
"Is what these ministers are doing in line with what the president wants done? There must be guidance from State House," said Prof Saasa.
Last week, Judiciary officials also pressed the government for a salary increase by staging a one-day work stoppage as they demanded a K2 million rise across the board.
Investors have also promised to adjust salaries for their employees, with Konkola Copper Mines granting a 17 per cent pay rise to its employees effective January 1.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, MICHAEL SATA, OLIVER SAASA
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2010 has been wasted year for media - Chanda
By Salim Dawood
Sun 02 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT
PAZA says 2010 has been a wasted year for the media. In an interview, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice-president Amos Chanda said the media directed most of its efforts last year trying to convince the government on straightforward issues on the importance of a self-regulated media.
“The year has been a characterised by the controversy of the creation of the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC). Government has been pushing very hard to pass laws that regulate the media, to bring the media under the political control of politicians,” he said.
He said the media fought hard and resisted the government’s attempts to impose statutory media regulation because that would limit not only the media freedoms in the country but also freedom of expression.
“So a lot of time has been wasted. The downside has been that a lot of effort that could have been taken to other activities of media development was instead consumed trying to convince government on a very straightforward matter regarding the sanctity of media freedoms and freedoms of expression which must be protected from any form of interference,” he said.
He said the year had also been characterised by physical attacks on journalists working both in private and public media institutions.
He said the attacks where as a result of the deteriorating relationship between the media and politicians which were brought by the politicians desire to control the media.
He said the much delayed ZNBC and IBA Act had still not been implemented eight years after being enacted and underwent amendment in parliament last year.
“There has been cosmetic changes made to the ZNBC and IBA Act, but those Acts still remain unimplemented eight years since they were enacted. So in 2010 you see a minister presenting to Parliament amendments to the two laws that have never been implemented but even with those amendments the implementation has still not taken place. It’s been generally a wasted year,” he said.
Chanda said 2011 would not be any easier for the media especially that 2011 was an election year.
“We can’t delude ourselves that it will be an easy year, it will be a difficult year. What has been happening in 2010 had been a result of the anxieties and is likely to dominate the minds of politicians in view of the forth coming general elections.
“But I would like to see that politicians must understand that the separation that exists between Parliament and executive and the judiciary must be the same separation that should exist between the executive arm of government and the media as a fourth arm of government,” he said.
He warned that politicians would attempt to gain political control but they must not delude themselves that the media would let them.
He said although the media scored a few positives such as the conviction of MMD youth Lusaka youth chairperson Chris Chalwe for assaulting journalists, the year had more negative incidents to the media than positive.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, CHRIS CHALWE, MEDIA, PAZA
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MLC exposes Ronnie’s media council bill plan
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 28 Dec. 2010, 04:01 CAT
THE Media Liaison Committee (MLC) has disclosed that information minister Ronnie Shikapwasha has devised a 2010 Media Council Bill which he intends to present to Parliament early next year.
Reacting to a story published in the Times of Zambia yesterday where Lieutenant General Shikapwasha asked the media bodies to withdraw the registration of the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC), MLC chairperson Amos Chanda said the MLC was aware that the minister wanted to fulfil his desire to regulate the media by law.
"What he has said is a step to implementing what's on his table. We are aware that he has prepared a 2010 Media Council Bill which he wants to table before Parliament in the next sitting," Chanda said yesterday.
"We are also aware that he has decided to revise the 2009 Media Council Bill so that his position and conditions on media regulation can be fulfilled. He has a tendency of dragging people into acrimonious situations, but we will not be a party to that."
Chanda contended that the MLC, and not Lt Gen Shikapwasha, had always spearheaded the dialogue process. He said the registration of ZAMEC was done in line with the wishes of media bodies.
"As of 3rd May 2010, the conference at Pamodzi Hotel decided that MLC be registered. And we have registered in line with the Pamodzi resolution. Even the institutions the minister has mentioned were there and they agreed to the resolution," he explained.
However, Chanda said the MLC was still available for dialogue with Lt Gen Shikapwasha, but would not de-register ZAMEC.
Chanda said the MLC would not succumb to Lt Gen Shikapwasha's threats, innuendoes and acrimony.
And Press Freedom Committee of The Post chairperson Chansa Kabwela said Lt Gen Shikapwasha had exposed himself over media regulation.
Responding to Shikapwasha's claims that The Post was driving the media regulation agenda, Kabwela asked Lt Gen Shikapwasha to reflect seriously on his attitude towards the media.
"His stance towards media self-regulation shows that he is not ready to reform. It is the same Lieutenant General Shikapwasha who not too long ago accused The Post of standing aloof regarding media regulation. But now that we are involved in the process, he is accusing us of driving the agenda. Clearly, Lieutenant General Shikapwasha has exposed himself that he is not interested in media regulation," said Kabwela. "We hope and pray that he will reflect seriously in the remaining three days before closing the year. This kind of thinking defies logic. It's a very shameful way of closing the year!"
In yesterday's Times of Zambia, Lt Gen Shikapwasha asked the MLC to de-register ZAMEC before engaging the government in further talks.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha also claimed that the MLC had betrayed the government and accused The Post of driving the agenda on media regulation.
"On our part, we want MLC to de-register ZAMEC and bring it back to the table because they decided to register it without further consultations. They said dialogue should still go ahead and they hoped there can be an understanding. How can there be an understanding when they decided to unilaterally register it before we could dialogue?" asked Shikapwasha. "There is no way one newspaper and a few individuals can control the media regulatory framework on behalf of all Zambians. There was a rush to go and register it because they did not want negotiations to continue."
Lt Gen Shikapwasha further claimed the MLC did not consult state-owned media institutions such as the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail, Evelyn Hone College Media Studies Department, Zambia Institute of Mass Communications and Zambia Printing Company, before registering ZAMEC.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, MEDIA, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA
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M’membe leaves prison
By George Chellah
Tue 08 June 2010, 08:20 CAT
PAZA vice-president Amos Chanda shaking hands with M’membe after he was released from Lusaka Central Prison in Lusaka yesterday - Pictures by Eddie Mwanaleza
POST editor-in-chief Fred M’membe yesterday wondered what President Rupiah Banda and his corrupt system had achieved from his incarceration.
M’membe, who walked out of Lusaka Central Prison accompanied by his lawyers George Chisanga and Remmy Mainza at 15:40 hours was lifted shoulder high by a jubilant crowd most of which was made up of UPND cadres who had gathered outside the prison as early as 08:00 hours.
“I would like to thank everybody for the support that I have been given since Friday and before that. I am very grateful to my fellow journalists. I have received more than the support I thought I would get and I deserve. I am extremely grateful and grateful to the UPND supporters, to the PF supporters, to the MMD supporters and the leaders who have given me the support,” M’membe told the cheering crowd.
“I do not know what Mr Rupiah Banda and his corrupt system have achieved from this. They thought they would humiliate me. They have not succeeded in humiliating me. It will not be long before the Zambian people know who they are, what they are, what they stand for, what they have been doing and what they intend to do and the consequences will not be good for them.
“We will continue to work the way we have worked. We hope, you know, our judicial process will improve. There is definitely some cleaning up that is needed in the judicial process, the police, the prosecution system and the entire judicial system needs improvement.”
M’membe said he was very well received by inmates in Lusaka Central Prison and prison officers.
“People are working in prison to improve the conditions but there is no… I think the authority must look at the plight of prisoners. They have no one to speak for them. Mandela said, ‘you judge a nation by the way it treats its prisoners’. Our prisoners are treated like animals. Our pigs, chickens and dogs sleep much better than prisoners,” he said.
Asked if his spirit was crashed, M’membe responded: “Never! Never! It will never be possible for anybody to crash my faith. I am what I am and I will live that way and I will die that way,” M’membe said.
And Lusaka senior resident magistrate David Simusamba yesterday granted M’membe a K20 million bail pending appeal in his own recognisance. One of M’membe’s lawyers Remmy Mainza said his client had been granted bail.
“He has been given a K20 million bail in his own recognisance with two sureties. What that means is that he is not paying any money at all. It’s a free bail,” Mainza said.
“We have already lodged an appeal and the court would not have granted bail had we not lodged an appeal in the High Court. Our bail is conditional; one has to lodge an appeal for the court to grant bail.”
Asked why there was a delay in granting the bail to M’membe, Mainza answered:
“This morning we briefly appeared before the magistrate but we were advised to amend our notice of appeal and this is what delayed the bail application until this afternoon.”
On Friday, M’membe calmly entered Lusaka Central Prison (Chimbokaila) at exactly 13.40 hours after magistrate Simusamba sentenced him to four months imprisonment with hard labour as accused number one and four months simple imprisonment as accused number two (for The Post).
This is in a matter in which M’membe and The Post were last Wednesday convicted on a charge of contempt arising from the publication of an article in The Post of August 27, 2009 titled: ‘The Chansa Kabwela case: A comedy of Errors’, authored by United States-based Zambian Professor of law Muna Ndulo.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, FRED M'MEMBE, THE POST
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Zambia’s justice system has collapsed - Hichilema
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sun 06 June 2010, 04:02 CAT
PF-UPND PACT LAUNCH: PF leader Michael Sata and UPND president Hakainde Hichilema (circled) during the launch of the Pact at the Freedom Park in Lusaka yesterday - Picture by Thomas Nsama
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema yesterday said Zambia’s justice system has collapsed. And Post editor Fred M’membe has said from Chimbokaila (Lusaka Central) Prison that he is as fine as anyone could be.
Meanwhile, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice-president Amos Chanda yesterday said the media body regards M’membe as a prisoner of conscience who deserves the support of all those that cherish the cause of freedom of expression.
In an interview after he visited M’membe in prison, Hichilema said it was good to see M’membe looking positive. M’membe was on Friday sentenced to four-months imprisonment with hard labour by senior resident magistrate David Simusamba for contempt of court.
Hichilema and his entourage, which included Siavonga, Mwinilunga East and Mazabuka Central UPND members of parliament Douglas Syakalima, Stephen Katuka and Gary Nkombo respectively, arrived at Chimbokaila prison at 10.00 hours.
They were immediately ushered inside the prison where they met M’membe for over thirty minutes.
“We came to see Fred. We came to see Mr M’membe and we are grateful to the prison officers for allowing us in as this is not the official visiting hour,” Hichilema said.
“We saw Fred. He is looking positive. He is talking positive, which is very good for someone who is in this place. It is clear in our country that we don’t have one justice system. We have a dual justice system.”
Hichilema said he was of the view that the contempt of court matter upon which M’membe had been sent to prison was a frivolous one and that things should not have been that way.
“Definitely we understand that everything is political,” Hichilema said. “The magistrate could have looked at things from one way.”
Hichilema said although the above could have been the case, the magistrate was probably under extreme political pressure.
“This is a bailable offence. Why wasn’t bail granted on Friday?” Hichilema asked. “The conviction was on Wednesday and ruling was deliberately reserved to Friday so that they could lock up Fred. Obviously, they just want to embarrass Fred.”
Hichilema said while M’membe and other ordinary citizens were in Chimbokaila, people like health deputy minister Dr Solomon Musonda who shot at a PF cadre in Serenje was not.
“Solomon Musonda shot a young person with intention to kill and Solomon is out. He is not here. Is he?” Hichilema wondered. “A person shoots someone to kill and is not in the cells!”
Hichilema said Dr Musonda was trained to serve lives but that he was the first one to attempt to save life.
“Then there is Kajilo Muzungu (son of MMD losing Mufumbwe parliamentary candidate Mulondwe Muzungu who caused the death of three children through dangerous driving after his father lost the election). I think you are aware of his activities in Mufumbwe,” Hichilema said.
He said it was a confirmation of the country’s dual justice system that Kajilo Muzungu who drove his vehicle into a crowd and killed three children whilst others were still in hospital was still a free person.
“Is he in a prison in Mufumbwe?” Hichilema asked. “The MMD is protecting Kajilo and is protecting Musonda but Fred M’membe is here. The justice system has collapsed. It is a dual justice system; one for the MMD and its sympathisers and another for ordinary citizens. You can’t run a country like that. The leadership of the police is just serving the MMD. We know what (Inspector General of Police Francis) Kabonde is up to.”
Hichilema said he had already said that Kabonde must resign for professional reasons.
“That is if he has any professionalism in him,” said Hichilema.
And M’membe told Hichilema that he was fine as anyone could be.
“We are fine as anyone could be,” M’membe told Hichilema who wanted to know how he was doing and coping in prison.
Meanwhile, Amos Chanda said PAZA was saddened by M’membe’s conviction.
“…and therefore takes this moment to offer him and his newspaper its deepest solidarity and fraternity deserving of the cause he has championed over the years,” Chanda said.
“PAZA considers Mr M’membe a prisoner of conscience who deserves the support of all those who cherish the cause of freedom of expression and of the media that he, together with like-minded colleagues, champion on behalf of the silent majority.”
Chanda said at this moment of tribulation, PAZA offered M’membe its deepest solidarity and the fraternity freely shared by advocates of freedom of expression and the media.
“We also encourage journalists at The Post and beyond to work even harder in their struggle to overcome the various pressures that have been mounting against media professionals in recent times,” Chanda urged.
“As law-abiding citizens, we respect the independence of the judiciary but at the same time we reserve our right to disagree with some of its decisions like this one, which is why we support the grounds of appeal defence lawyers will lodge before the High Court next week.”
Chanda described M’membe’s conviction as a setback that must not dissuade The Post from pursuing the sound values it espouses given that it operates in a political environment that is so hostile to media freedom.
“The practice of journalism has become a constant daily struggle against a myriad of legal and political landmines,” Chanda bemoaned. “When the case is fully discharged by the courts of law, PAZA will give a comprehensive position on contempt laws that affect media freedom and other restrictive laws generally called ‘insult laws’ in the media advocacy parlance.”
The Zambian Roman Catholic Church leadership has also pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with The Post and M’membe in what they described as a trying moment.
“We respect the court’s decision. However, we are aware that the persecution of Mr Fred M’membe is meant to humiliate him,” Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) spokesperson Fr Paul Samasumo said in an interview.
“We as a church and as Catholic Media, The Post is a very important institution because it is only The Post that usually gives us space as a church. So we can only express our solidarity with The Post in this trying moment and that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with them.”
MISA Zambia chairperson Henry Kabwe expressed sadness at M’membe’s conviction and subsequent sentencing to four months imprisonment.
Kabwe stated that MISA Zambia respected the decision of the court but would like to state that the sentencing of an editor of a renowned and well-established media that could afford legal representation would undoubtedly have a chilling effect on the media in Zambia.
“We wish to state that an independent and vibrant media has the ability to act as a conscience or beacon for society that highlights both good and ills of society,” Kabwe stated.
“The media must not be viewed as an enemy of society. Instead it should be viewed as a trumpet that sounds the daily happenings of our society.”
M’membe calmly entered Lusaka Central Prison at exactly 13.40 on Friday after attempts by his lawyers to secure bail pending appeal for him failed.
M’membe was on Friday sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour as accused number one and four months imprisonment simple imprisonment as accused number two (The Post) in a matter where he and The Post stood charged of contempt of court.
The contempt charges arose from an article published in The Post edition of August 27, 2009 titled ‘The Chansa Kabwela case: A comedy of errors’ authored by US-based Zambian professor of law, Muna Ndulo.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, COURTS, FRANCIS KABONDE, FRED M'MEMBE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF-UPND
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‘Ronnie is exaggerating govt feelings on media regulation’
By Agness Changala
Wed 02 June 2010, 04:01 CAT
MEDIA Liaison Committee (MLC) spokesperson Amos Chanda has charged that information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha is exaggerating the feelings of the government on statutory regulation of the media.
Reacting to Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s claims that Zambians want statutory regulation of the media, Chanda said most Zambians were pushing for self regulation.
“This is the feeling for the majority Zambians, they have rejected statutory regulation and are for self regulation,” he said. “I think that the minister is exaggerating the feelings of the government.”
Chanda said many Zambians including the parliamentary committee on information and broadcasting, the civil society organizations and many others had rejected it.
Chanda said it was regrettable that Lt Gen Shikapwasha could say this at a time when dialogue was going on over self regulation of the media.
Chanda explained that last week, the MLC wrote a letter to Lt Gen Shikapwasha, highlighting the changes that were made to his requirement.
He said the committee was this week expected to hold a meeting with him where the document with changes would be looked at.
Chanda said the meeting was also expected to look at the grounds on which Lt Gen Shikapwasha rejected the Zambia Media Ethics Council (ZAMEC) process.
“We will give the government time to reflect on the position from the meeting we had at Pamodzi and we also want to understand where the problem is,” he said.
Chanda said visiting American Professor Al Cross’ views who on statutory regulation of the media could not be rejected because they were universally accepted.
He said self regulation of the media was a global standard and all about getting other people’s views for best practices.
Chanda said Lt Gen Shikapwasha should not reject other people’s views because that was equal to closing himself from learning.
Chanda said the MLC believed in learning and not shutting other people’s views.
The committee is yet to announce the date of the ZAMEC launch.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha on Monday claimed that Zambians wanted statutory regulation of the media.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha said the government would respect people’s views on the matter but maintain their position on statutory regulation.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, MEDIA, REGULATION, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA
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Chanda threatens to eject Chiluba’s aide from media conference
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 14 Apr. 2010, 04:50 CAT
FLASH BACK: Tamara Kambikambi speaking while Information minister Ronnie Shikapwasha (l) and Amos Chanda listens during the PRM media breakfast eting at Lusaka's Hotel Intercontinental on April 30-04-2009me
MEDIA Liaison Committee (MLC) spokesperson Amos Chanda yesterday threatened to chase former president Frederick Chiluba's press aide Emmanuel Mwamba for being argumentative and interrupting the discussions at the national stakeholders' conference on media self-regulation.
During deliberations on the draft constitution of the soon-to-be launched Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) at Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka, Mwamba, who regularly stood up to debate and sometimes interrupted other delegates that were debating, accused Chanda, who was chairing the session, of taking sides on certain aspects of the constitution.
When he stood up, Mwamba said: “It's just a word of caution to the chair not to take sides.” But Chanda responded: “Mr Mwamba, you can't caution the chair.”
Mwamba, who is a journalist, said Chanda had been taking sides, debating and ruling other debaters out of order.
But Chanda said: “Again, what is the function of the chair? It's to overrule somebody who is out of order like you were.”
Mwamba demanded to continue speaking and argued that Chanda was refusing to take his point of view.
Chanda warned: “No! Mr Mwamba you will be forced to be sent away from here. Emmanuel, you can't just stand up and interrupt others just because you want to speak all the time.”
Earlier, Mwamba demanded that membership to ZAMEC be compulsory.
He said Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ) failed because membership was voluntary.
Mwamba added that MECOZ failed because The Post, which he said was a “key offender”, was not a member of the institution.
“We must discuss the reasons why MECOZ failed; it was because of voluntary membership. MECOZ was just toothless because it couldn't exercise authority,” said Mwamba.
But Post assistant news editor George Chellah dismissed Mwamba's assertions that MECOZ failed because The Post was not a member.
“Why should someone have a problem with the issue of voluntary membership unless they have ulterior motives?” said Chellah.
Post managing editor Amos Malupenga argued that MECOZ failed because there was no conscience.
He said the reasons that Mwamba advanced on the failure by MECOZ were untrue.
Malupenga explained that there were even members of MECOZ that did not comply with the organisation's decisions.
MISA-Zambia representative Jane Chirwa said membership to ZAMEC should be voluntary like it were in Australia, South Africa and other countries that had media self-regulation mechanisms.
Nalumino Nalumino proposed that although membership to the council should be voluntary, there should be a clause in the constitution that would forbid members from withdrawing from ZAMEC when they are facing cases.
MISA Zambia former director Fanwell Chembo said membership to ZAMEC should be voluntary and there would be need to make it attractive and successful so that people could gain confidence, join and support it.
Chembo said people go to churches voluntarily because they were attractive and they succeeded.
Majority members agreed that membership to ZAMEC should be voluntary but no member should withdraw at the critical time when they were facing a case before the council.
And South African Press Council (SAPC) press ombudsman Joe Thloloe, in a presentation read for him by Zambia Union for Broadcasting and other Information Disseminators (ZUBID) general secretary Masuzyo Ndhlovu, said journalists and media owners in his country that take the responsibility that society had placed on them seriously had decided that they would unravel the irony in which society finds itself.
“They have voluntarily adopted the South African Press Code to guide them in their decision making as they go about gathering and distributing news and opinion. The Press Council is the custodian of that code.
The code does respect the country's constitution because the choices are not dictated by institutions outside the newsrooms.
Close to 700 publications - all the major ones - through the length and breadth of the country subscribe to this code,” Thloloe said. “The Press Code sets out why we have journalism: 'The primary purpose of gathering and distributing news and opinion is to serve society by informing citizens and enabling them to make informed judgments on the issues of the time.
' It goes on to state: 'The freedom of the press allows for an independent scrutiny to bear on the forces that shape society.' The code is a guide for journalists when they make decisions and journalism is about decisions: what story to cover, who to interview, what questions to ask, what pictures to take and what words to use in the writing of the story, the headline and the poster. The quality of our decisions rests squarely on our ethics and values as journalists. The code is a quick reference as we go about our business.”
He explained that complaints against newspapers and magazines were adjudicated by the Press Ombudsman and the Press Appeals Panel.
“The Press Appeals Panel also has six press and six public representatives, and is headed by a retired judge. When we get a complaint, we first try and resolve the matter amicably between the two parties. If that fails, we move to the stage of a hearing in which the Ombudsman is assisted by one press and one public representative from the Appeals Panel.
The decisions are taken by majority vote,” said Thloloe. “If one of the parties is dissatisfied with the decision, they may take the matter on appeal to the judge, who in turn is assisted by one press and one public representative. The decisions of the judge are final.”
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, CHILUBA, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA
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PAZA describes deregistration of SACCORD as arbitrary
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Fri 12 Mar. 2010, 09:10 CAT
RONNIE Shikapwasha’s deregistration of SACCORD was arbitrary, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice president Amos Chanda has said.
Commenting on the High Court’s decision to uphold the deregistration of Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD), Chanda yesterday said the decision by the minister to deregister SACCORD was arbitrary because the reasons given were vague.
Information minister Lieutenant General Shikapwasha in 2004 as home affairs minister deregistered SACCORD on grounds that it engaged in activities that were inimical and a danger to national security but the institution appealed to the High Court.
The High Court last week upheld the decision of the minister to deregister the organisation.
Chanda said there was no clear demonstration that SACCORD threatened national security.
He said it was not justifiable in a democratic society for ministers to arbitrarily use sweeping statements such as national security.
Chanda said this took away the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals which in this case took away the right to assembly and free expression.
“That is why we are concerned as PAZA because we promote free expression and by deregistering SACCORD, the effect is that freedom of expression has been violated because the reason they associate as an umbrella of SACCORD is for purposes of free expression,” he said.
He said PAZA was alarmed that in a democratic society, such high-handed decisions must be meted out against citizens.
Chanda said while PAZA respected the court decisions, they were saddened that the High Court upheld such a decision.
“Whilst we respect the independence and integrity of the judiciary, we disagree with the decision of the High Court to endorse such an arbitrary action by the Minister of Home Affairs,” said Chanda.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, PAZA, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA, SACCORD
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PAZA describes deregistration of SACCORD as arbitrary
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Fri 12 Mar. 2010, 09:10 CAT
RONNIE Shikapwasha’s deregistration of SACCORD was arbitrary, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice president Amos Chanda has said.
Commenting on the High Court’s decision to uphold the deregistration of Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD), Chanda yesterday said the decision by the minister to deregister SACCORD was arbitrary because the reasons given were vague.
Information minister Lieutenant General Shikapwasha in 2004 as home affairs minister deregistered SACCORD on grounds that it engaged in activities that were inimical and a danger to national security but the institution appealed to the High Court.
The High Court last week upheld the decision of the minister to deregister the organisation.
Chanda said there was no clear demonstration that SACCORD threatened national security.
He said it was not justifiable in a democratic society for ministers to arbitrarily use sweeping statements such as national security.
Chanda said this took away the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals which in this case took away the right to assembly and free expression.
“That is why we are concerned as PAZA because we promote free expression and by deregistering SACCORD, the effect is that freedom of expression has been violated because the reason they associate as an umbrella of SACCORD is for purposes of free expression,” he said.
He said PAZA was alarmed that in a democratic society, such high-handed decisions must be meted out against citizens.
Chanda said while PAZA respected the court decisions, they were saddened that the High Court upheld such a decision.
“Whilst we respect the independence and integrity of the judiciary, we disagree with the decision of the High Court to endorse such an arbitrary action by the Minister of Home Affairs,” said Chanda.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, PAZA, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA, SACCORD
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Media does not recognise ultimatum on self-regulation – PAZA
By Mutale Kapekele
Sat 19 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
THE media will not ask government to extend the period of the six months ultimatum given to them to come up with a self-regulatory framework, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice president Amos Chanda has disclosed.
In an interview, Chanda said the media did not recognise the ultimatum as they had their own work programme for coming up with a self-regulatory framework.
“We are not going to ask the government to extend their ultimatum,” Chanda said on Thursday. “Doing so will mean that we are recognising it ultimatum when we don’t. We have our own roadmap as the media and it does not involve any ultimatum. PAZA, MISA and Press Freedom Committee of The Post PFC , who are all part of the Media Liaison Committee (MLC) are not part of any ultimatums because that will not add value to dialogue as we work towards coming up with a self-regulatory framework.”
He disclosed that the MLC was expected to meet with information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha to explain the steps that the media would take in coming up with a self-regulatory mechanism.
“We are going to present the PAZA communiqué following our conference last week and we will explain to him Shikapwasha steps that we intend to take,” Chanda said.
On Monday, Lt Gen Shikapwasha maintained that the government would go ahead and introduce statutory regulation of the media if the ultimatum was not adhered to by the latter.
On Wednesday, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said he was disappointed that media associations had not approached his office to extend the period of the ultimatum.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha told Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) that he was ready to consider an extension to the ultimatum if media associations approached him.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha said he was disappointed that media organisations were issuing statements to the press about the ultimatum that ends on December 31, 2009 but did not approach his office to seek an extension.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, MEDIA, PAZA, REGULATION
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Govt is criminalising the media – PAZA
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 15 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
PRESS Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice-president Amos Chanda has charged that the government is bent on criminalising the media profession through statutory regulation.
And the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia chapter has described the government's move to formulate a media regulatory Bill as hypocritical.
Commenting on Vice-President George Kunda's revelation to Parliament on Friday that government had already prepared a Bill to regulate the media through a statutory body, Chanda said the government's earlier plea to have the media regulate themselves or be regulated was an indirect way of coercing the media to be part of the regulation.
"That ultimatum given to us by government was meant to legitimise statutory regulation of the media which they had already decided. In other words, it was an indirect way of coercing us into being part of their statutory regulation move. They can go ahead and regulate but they should also know that what will come out of that is a bad law," Chanda said. "It seems government is bent on criminalising the media profession. What it means is that once the media are regulated by a statutory body then all professional errors will become criminal offences. If I mis-spell someone's name or I misquote someone, instead of the issue being addressed professionally, it will be subjected to the Penal Code. This is very dangerous in a democracy; you can't subject professional errors to Penal functions."
Chanda said the government was in the first place hoodwinking the media into believing that there was nothing sinister about the whole process.
He said there was nowhere in the world where the media operated freely under statutory regulation.
"It is easy for anyone to understand that in the first place government had already decided that they will regulate the media through a statutory body. And those manoeuvres of giving us an ultimatum were meant to show the outside world that they were trying to consult the media. But in essence they had already made the decision. In any case let the Vice-President take that Bill to Parliament so that the public can start debating it. For now we will proceed with our mechanism as media bodies, whether it works out now or then we don't mind," he said.
He reminded formulators of the law that they would be the first victims once it was enacted.
"There is no doubt that once government goes ahead and enacts a media regulatory law, it will licence freedom of expression for everyone. I know that mostly they think offences will be committed by the private media, but let them know that the same law will also hit the public media. In the end, politicians will also be victims of that law because they are the biggest consumers of publicity in this country," Chanda said.
"When Parliament passed a law on motor vehicle theft a few years back, the first victims were the formulators themselves. Equally, government won't achieve what they think they will achieve by regulating the media through a statutory body. We already have the Penal Code; there's nothing more that media law will do than what the Penal Code is doing."
And Kabwe expressed disappointment with the government's display of deceit on the media regulation Bill.
"We had a meeting with information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha a few weeks back. And he expressed satisfaction with what we are doing on self regulation. In fact he himself said the President would be happy if he saw how far we had moved into formulating a self regulatory mechanism. United Nations Development Programme representatives met us and were pleased with what we were doing. And when they met government they indicated to our government that they UNDP supported our stance on media regulation," Kabwe said.
"You cannot keep formulating laws for one individual just because you feel they have misconducted themselves in one way or another. I know of lawyers who have misconducted themselves, but no one has ever targeted a law at them. In my view, what government has displayed is a hypocritical disposition because even the President indicated self regulation. It's sad that government is playing politics of appeasement and we don't know who they want to appease. If we can grapple with the Republican Constitution for 45 years, how does government expect us to regulate ourselves in six months? We will fight this draconian law at whatever cost."
On Friday, Vice-President George Kunda told Parliament that the government's bill on statutory regulation of the media was ready.
Vice-President Kunda said if the media had a bill, they could present it to Parliament by way of a private member's motion.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, PAZA
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Rupiah fires Chanda, Kambikambi
Written by George Chellah
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 5:34:52 AM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has instructed Vice-President George Kunda to terminate the membership of African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) National Governing Council chairperson Tamala Kambikambi and spokesperson Amos Chanda over their uncompromising stance on Post news editor Chansa Kabwela's case. Kabwela is facing a charge of circulating two obscene pictures with a view to corrupt public morals, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
The termination of the duo's membership from the APRM National Governing Council follows Kambikambi's apology to The Post in her capacity as Zambia National Women's Lobby (ZNWL) board chairperson where she stated that the ZNWL reacted based on information given to them by sources who did not have full details of the story.
Highly placed sources at State House yesterday disclosed that Vice-President Kunda was under pressure from President Banda to terminate the membership of Kambikambi and Chanda from the APRM National Governing Council. The sources revealed that a named State House aide had been meeting some named leaders from the NGOCC and Women for Change (WfC) following Kambikambi's apology to The Post.
The sources said the named aide in conjunction with the named leaders from the NGOCC and WfC lobbied President Banda to ensure that Kambikambi and Chanda were dismissed because they felt that Kambikambi's apology had destroyed or dismantled their court case against The Post. Chanda had also issued press statements on Kabwela's arrest urging the police not to act on instructions but allow the due process of the law to take its course. Chanda is further alleged, by the named State House aide, to have been the brain behind Kambikambi's letter of apology to Kabwela.
Recently, the ZNWL apologised to Kabwela over a letter the organistion sent to her in which they complained about the pictures of a woman in labour that were sent to Vice-President Kunda during the protracted strike by health workers.
In a letter dated July 16, 2009 signed by Kambikambi, ZNWL stated that the complaint letter was written without the full understanding of the facts behind the matter.
"I refer to our letter dated 26th June in which we registered our displeasure of the photographer who took the picture of the woman who was in labour. It has come to our attention that we wrote the letter in the absence of full facts concerning the matter," Kambikambi stated. "Now that we have the facts, we want to commend you for the courage you took to alert the necessary persons and organisations on the plight of women in the wake of the strike by the health workers. It is for this reason that we write again to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and anguish the letter may have caused to you."
Kambikambi stated that the women's movement would instead support the newspaper for its courage in promoting women's values.
"As an organisation that promotes the advancement of women in decision making, we want to stand in support for you and salute you for the great leadership and courage you exhibited during this trying time. On behalf of the members, board and staff of the Zambia National Women's Lobby, kindly accept my deepest apologies," Kambikambi stated.
And in another letter to the Press Freedom Committee of The Post, Kambikambi stated that the ZNWL reacted based on information given to them by sources who did not have full details of the story.
"...We would like to apologise unreservedly. We made that complaint based on information provided to us by sources that did not have the full details of the story. But now, having gotten information on the facts of the matter, we realise that we erred in our decision and that the whole essence of the matter was to push improvement of the women's access to health care - especially maternal health care. This is a cardinal issue if the socio-economic development of this country is to be advanced," she stated. "For this reason we want to commend the Post Newspaper for having selectively circulated pictures portraying the plight of women in the wake of the strike of the health workers to persons and organisations that they believed would have helped solve the impasse so as to ensure women did not continue to suffer the absence of adequate health care."
Kambikambi also saluted Kabwela for the courage she had exhibited over the condemnation she had received on the pictures.
"We want to salute the courageous Ms Chansa Kabwela who has exhibited great leadership despite the immense pressure that she has been subjected to. As an organization that promotes the advancement of women in decision-making, we want to commend the Post Managing Editor [Post Editor-in-Chief] Mr Fred M'membe, for having appointed a young and courageous woman journalist of such exemplary character. We need such women to help develop this country," Kambikambi stated.
On June 16, 2009, the ZNWL wrote a complaint letter to the Press Freedom Committee of The Post chairperson over the pictures of a woman in labour that were sent to them.
The pictures were sent to Vice-President George Kunda and copied to the Minister of Health, Secretary to the Cabinet, NGOCC, WfC and the Archbishop of Lusaka.
The women's movement complained that the pictures were depressing to all women in the country.
"We write to register our complaint over the photographer who took pictures of a woman giving birth. We would like to mention that as women, we are deeply disturbed that the dignity of women is being undermined in the name of press freedom. While we are in support of press freedom and the right to information, we feel that circulating pictures that demean women is a transgression of women's right to privacy," the letter stated. "The pictures were not only depressing to the victim, but to all women in the country. We therefore call on our colleagues in the media not to allow the dignity of women to be tarnished by one single individual who did not pay attention to the negative implication the picture had on women."
And sources at State House yesterday further disclosed that following President Banda's directive, Vice-President Kunda had written to Kambikambi and Chanda, informing them of the decision to terminate their membership from the council.
"His Excellency, the President feels so strongly about Chansa's case. I am sure you know that even during the last press conference here at State House he spoke at length against the issue of those pictures, which he actually described as pornography. Therefore, any comments that are seen to be undermining Chansa's case as well as His Excellency's strong feelings over that issue, he is not taking them lightly," the source revealed. "So it's against this background that His Excellency saw it prudent that Tamala and Amos' memberships and executive functions from the APRM National Governing Council be withdrawn. What this basically means is that Tamala and Amos cease to be chairperson and spokesperson respectively of the APRM National Governing Council respectively."
The sources said President Banda had taken keen interest in Kabwela's case.
"But for obvious reasons you will not get this explanation from anybody including the Vice-President himself. That's why even in the letter written to them, he is just saying that they have decided to reorganise the council," the source said. "They have also said that they have taken the decision to withdraw the duo's membership and executive functions from the National Governing Council after taking into consideration other factors. I must say the factors they have taken into consideration have not been stated."
When contacted yesterday, Chanda confirmed receiving the letter but referred all queries to the appointing authority.
Kambikambi could not be reached for comment by press time.
In an interview with Radio Phoenix last Wednesday, Kambikambi maintained that her organisation would support Kabwela because she did not publish the pictures of the woman in labour but instead sent them to a few selected eminent individuals in the country.
Kambikambi said the ZNWL had seen the issue in a different way, saying Kabwela had felt for the women and that is why she never published the pictures in the newspaper.
Kambikambi said the ZNWL would support Kabwela because she felt for the women who suffered during the period of the protracted strike.
"So we just want to tell you that we will support the young lady because she felt for the women who were suffering and she felt that was a way in which she could agitate those who could make certain decisions," said Kambikambi. "We know that there are colleagues who felt the means did not justify the end."
And just after Kabwela's arrest, the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) whose vice-president is Chanda together with other media bodies observed that the arrest and subsequent charging of Kabwela would set a bad precedent.
"The Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA), Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) And the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia would like to urge the government and Members of Parliament to amend the law on obscenity in order for the said law to define in clear terms what constitutes obscenity and matters that can corrupt morals," they stated. "Currently Section 177 makes it an offence to be in possession of, or circulation of obscene material. However, this law does not define what constitutes obscene matter. It simply makes the offence punishable through imprisonment up to five years. However, the law is too broad and it leaves to the discretion of the person in authority to determine what constitutes obscene material.
"As media associations, whose membership is drawn from media practitioners, we wish to urge government and indeed our law makers to amend these laws that impinge on press freedom by clearly defining what constitutes obscenity. Currently under this law, journalists are operating in grey areas that are not clearly defined."
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, CHANSA KABWELA, RUPIAH BANDA, TAMALA KAMBIKAMBI, THE POST
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No development without the rule of law – Sanderson
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Sunday, June 21, 2009 3:19:24 PM
KITWE resident Murray Sanderson has said there would be no development without an honest and transparent government. And Copperbelt University (CBU) economics lecturer Mundia Kabinga has said it will be more economical for Zambians to dialogue among themselves than spending US$2 million yearly on the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
During an Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) organised public discussion on the African Peer Review Mechanism in Kitwe on Tuesday evening, Sanderson, who is also Zambia Institute of Public Policy Analysis (ZIPPA) chairman, said Zambians needed to get their priorities right.
"We have only to look across our borders to the DRC and Zimbabwe to realise that without the rule of law and honest and accountable government, any kind of development, any prosperity is impossible," Sanderson said.
"Now let us turn to Lusaka and look at the Ministry of Health and the Wildlife Authority where employees have lately committed massive thefts. Are things so much better here in Zambia? Nor is it just Lusaka. Look at our own Kitwe City Council. What happens to the money they receive? We don't know; the city's accounts are no longer audited."
He said Zambia should concentrate on principles, processes, practices and performance instead of policies and purposes.
"The rule of law; this covers the protection of person and property and the prevention of theft and corruption. Specific requirements under this head are: an efficient and incorruptible police service; a special enforcement body to follow up reports of the Auditor General and ensure honest handling of government monies; a law to protect whistle blowers,” said Sanderson.
"Honest and transparent government which is efficient and accountable to the general public; this could be achieved through introducing closely monitored and effective customer service charters so that civil servants start to live up to their name."
And Kabinga said a country did not need the APRM if it had internal policy dialogue. He cited Botswana and Namibia as examples of countries that did not need the APRM.
Kabinga however said countries that probably needed the APRM were those that lacked internal policy dialogue. He noted that Zambia lacked internal policy dialogue in its political, economic and corporate governance spheres. Kabinga also wondered whether the APRM recommendations would be implemented in Zambia.
But APRM National Governing Council (NGC) spokesperson Amos Chanda said there were examples of peer pressure among African countries working on those that were not in tow with good democratic principles.
And APRM NGC chairperson Tamala Kambikambi said much as African states had problems, that did not stop them from giving suggestions to fellow countries.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, APRM, EAZ, MUNDIA KABINGA, MURRAY SANDERSON, TAMALA KAMBIKAMBI, ZIPPA
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Kibaki backs down on repressive media law
Written by Constance Matongo
Friday, January 09, 2009 5:20:04 AM
KENYAN President Mwai Kibaki has backed down on the repressive media law a few days after he signed the Bill.
And Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice-president Amos Chanda has welcomed Kibaki's decision to back down on the recently signed law, raising hopes of possible amendment to the piece of legislation.
According to AllAfrica.com, President Kibaki had directed the country's chief legal advisor and the minister for communications to study amendments proposed by the media fraternity to the Kenyan Communications (Amendment) Act 2008 and the Kenya Communications Act 2008.
President Kibaki also directed Attorney General Amos Wako and information minister Samuel Poghisio to present appropriate recommendations on the proposed amendments to Cabinet.
The new legislation provides for heavy fines and prison sentences for press offences. It also gives the government, above all the information and interior ministries, authority over the issuing of broadcast licences and the production and content of news programmes.
According to the website, President Kibaki stated that he had noted the concerns by the media regarding the two Acts and asked the Attorney General and the communications minister to study the proposed amendments and consult with the media representatives.
President Kibaki's move comes in the wake of intense public pressure on him to protect the constitutional right to freedom of expression and the press.
And Chanda said the media in Zambia hoped that President Kibaki's decision to send back the law was for the right reasons.
“The fact that the President [Kibaki] has responded to pressure in a positive way is a positive step, As PAZA we welcome it and we hope it has been sent back for the right reasons,” said Chanda.
Yesterday, three Zambian media bodies petitioned the Kenyan government through its High Commission in Zambia.
PAZA, the Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of The Post and MISA Zambia condemned the decision by President Kibaki to assent to the bill in spite of heightened protests and appeals not to go ahead.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, MWAI KIBAKI, PAZ
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PAZA welcomes government decision not to regulate media
Written by Margaret Mtonga
Sunday, December 14, 2008 9:48:05 AM
MEMBERS of parliament calling for statutory regulation of the media should now reflect objectively on the issue, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice-president Amos Chanda advised yesterday.
In an interview, Chanda welcomed the government’s decision not to come up with statutory regulation for the media.
He was commenting on information minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha’s statement during a Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme on Friday that the government was not advocating statutory media control. Lt Gen Shikapwasha said it was some members of parliament that complained during debates in Parliament last month and felt that the private media was exceedingly unethical before and during the October 30 election. He said it had never been government’s position to regulate the media, but only noted that since 1999, the media had lamentably failed to come up with a generally accepted self-regulation mechanism.
And Chanda said the position taken by the government not to come up with statutory regulation of the media was a positive step in enhancing the growth of Zambia’s young democracy.
“On behalf of Press Association of Zambia and other media bodies, we are happy that the government has taken our submissions of self-regulation,” Chanda said. “The media bodies have always advocated for self-regulation and this is a positive move in the progression of freedom of expression in the country.”
He said even if the government had delayed in responding to calls by the media to regulate themselves, its decision was gratifying.
“The government has taken a commendable step of not regulating the media through statutory means,” Chanda said. “The government has really taken time to respond to media submissions of self-regulation, but we are happy because the decision has not been done in a hurry.”
Chanda said the move would give an opportunity to members of parliament to reflect objectively on the demerits and merits of the media being regulated through statutory means.
“In this case, I mean the opposition United Party for National Development [UPND] members of parliament who strongly called on the government to regulate the media through statutory means,” Chanda said.
He said media organisations would soon be having a stakeholders’ conference whose aim will be to discuss issues of self-regulation.
“We agree with Ronnie Shikapwasha that the media should come up with a mechanism to solidify self-regulation,” said Chanda. “The conference is meant to strengthen the Media Council of Zambia or even change the present council.”
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, MEDIA, PAZ, REGULATION
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‘Media transgression won’t justify regulation’
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Friday, November 14, 2008 7:58:30 AM
NO amount of media transgression will justify regulation of the media, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice-president Amos Chanda has said.
And Mongu Catholic Diocese Bishop Paul Duffy has urged the media to use the power it has to better the lives of the people especially those in rural areas.
During the media day celebrations organised by Caritas Zambia on Tuesday, Chanda said no amount of media transgression would justify regulation as long as they remain within the law.
“The media should never be licensed because the regulation that the people are talking about amounts to licensing a journalist and that licensing means you can only practice when you have a licence. That means that you are not just targeting the journalist in a certain media but other professionals who want to write a column in the media. It will hit the unintended target,” he said
Chanda said statutory regulation of the media could not be justified under whatever circumstances and that if a media organisation transgresses, it was better use other means within the law other than to pass a licence.
“Licensing journalism would be licensing a fundamental part of human rights, freedom of expression which does not just belong to journalists,” he said.
He said it was necessary that the freedom of information law be passed as it empowers the citizens to demand information held by public officials and makes government more accountable.
Chanda said the media was a moral conscious of society but the media often ignored the Church in most instances.
And Bishop Duffy said the public media needed to be privatised as the government was too much involved in their operations.
“We only hear and see what they want us to hear and see. The reality on the ground is somewhat different. If it privatised, we will get the realities in rural areas ...,” he said.
Bishop Duffy said the media had a tremendous potential to promote the common good but was often underutilised.
He said often, the media reported on the events making news but that there was little effort to analyse the happenings in order to inform the citizenry better.
“The media could also be used to identify the development needs of the people and popularise these for the information of policy makers. The church takes a keen interest in the media because it is a tool through which evangelisation can fully take place,” he said.
Bishop Duffy said the Church relies on the mass media to convey its messages to the people of God.
He said the role of the media and the Church in development could not be over emphasized.
Bishop Duffy said the media today had become a very powerful tool that could and should be used for the betterment of all people.
He also said there was a lot of work that the Church and civil society organisations were doing which were not very often reported in the media.
Bishop Duffy challenged the media to cover the activities that were being carried out throughout the 10 dioceses covering the entire country.
“For example, the work that Caritas Zambia does in promoting sustainable agriculture and organic farming as an option rather than depending on chemical fertilisers. And the work that is being done in trying to influence government policies that are pro poor. These areas are seldom covered by the media,” said Bishop Duffy
And Caritas Zambia director Sam Mulafulafu called upon the new President to seriously look at media autonomy that has been in existence for a long time.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, MEDIA, PAZ, THE POST
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Press freedom makes govt stronger, says Chanda
By Namakau Nalumango
Thursday April 17, 2008 [04:00]
PRESS freedom does not undermine the government in any way but makes it stronger, World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) organising committee chairperson Amos Chanda has said. Briefing the press ahead of WPFD which falls on May 3, at MISA-Zambia offices yesterday, Chanda said it was easier for the government to run the country if people were well informed.
“When press freedom is allowed, it’s easier to rule because people would have been well informed. This also creates less tension in the country,” he said.
Chanda commended the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on the consultations it was making over the Freedom of Information (FoI) bill before it could be taken to Parliament.
He called the media to use the opportunity while consultation was going on over the FoI to create awareness by informing the public.
Chanda hoped that even radio stations would increase their programming, with an inclination towards the need for a free press.
Labels: AMOS CHANDA, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, GOVERNANCE
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