Media should focus on issues, not personalities - UNDP
By Joseph Mwenda
Sat 04 Dec. 2010, 03:59 CAT
THE Zambian media should focus more on issues in its reporting rather than personalities, says UNDP resident representative Kanni Wignaraja. In an interview after she visited The Post newspapers offices in Lusaka yesterday, Wignaraja said it was difficult to pick the real issues from what was being reported because of the character assassination perpetuated by the media.
She said there was too much tension and anxiety that was being reported.
“The media has an adrenaline rush that makes a person like me who is new in the country feel scared,” Wignaraja said.
She urged journalists to utilise their intellectual capabilities by bringing out real issues from the newsmakers and consider the opinion of the readers on matters being reported especially in the run-up to next year’s general elections.
“I need to see a more balanced way of reporting. Journalists must be able to distinguish between reporting purely what has been said, reporting with their opinions or those of the newspapers they represent and reporting based on the opinion of the general public not the readers because there is a difference,” Wignaraja said.
And Post managing editor Amos Malupenga said the media was a mirror of society.
“As The Post, we try as much as possible to focus on the real issues because it’s the real issues that are going to make a difference to our country. But it should be noted that the media is merely a mirror of society. What you see in the media reflects what kind of society we have,” Malupenga said.
“Sometimes the media can be blamed when they are merely reflecting what is happening in society.”
Malupenga said there was need to look at the whole issue of media coverage in a holistic manner and ensure that all stakeholders played a positive role.
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, ANTHONY UNDI, KANNI WIGNARAJA
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Banda’s instruction to Undi amounts to corruption - Wina
By Patson Chilemba
Sun 05 Sep. 2010, 04:28 CAT
INONGE Wina yesterday said President Rupiah Banda’s instruction to newly-appointed Ministry of Finance permanent secretary Anthony Undi to implement the government projects in time for the 2011 elections amounts to corruption of the highest order.
Commenting on President Banda’s instruction to Undi, Wina, who is opposition Patriotic Front (PF) national chairperson, said the directive by the President amounted to corruption because the government had no genuine desire to develop the country until they realized that the elections were near. He said the directive was a reactionary move to an impending election.
“I mean any leader should not be in a position to blackmail his or her people into submission. The people are free to choose. They do not need to be blackmailed into voting for Mr Rupiah Banda because he has brought development to their area. I mean he has the responsibility as head of state to see that development is delivered,” Wina said.
“I hope the people won’t be blackmailed. I hope Zambians will see through this and be able to distinguish between genuine development and some sort of induced development.”
Wina observed that President Banda did not have the capacity to plan for the nation’s development as evidenced by the last minute instructions to implement the government projects. She said it was sad that development was being attached to the elections.
“They only react when it is time for elections, and this is retarding progress because instead of planning for the whole country, government will be planning projects to where elections are taking place,” Wina said.
“That way you can’t have a balanced development of the whole nation. And this is definitely corruption at its highest because people are being bribed. People are being told that ‘if you don’t vote we will not bring development to you’.”
Wina said professionalism in the civil service was being undermined by the ruling party because people were no longer appointed on the basis of their expertise but on their political affiliations to the MMD.
She also expressed concern that women were not being appointed to senior government positions as if there were no qualified women in the country
“It is a great pity, and it’s very, very regrettable,” said Wina.
During the swearing-in of Undi and new Commissioner of Prisons Percy Chato at State House last Friday, President Banda instructed Undi to implement government projects in time for the 2011 general elections.
Labels: ANTHONY UNDI, CORRUPTION, INONGE WINA, RUPIAH BANDA
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