PFC condemns UPND cadres' attack of journalists
By Fridah Nkonde
Thu 01 Nov. 2012, 14:00 CAT
PRESS Freedom Committee of The Post chairperson Leah Kabamba has appealed to political leaders to keep their cadres in check and sensitise them on the need to refrain from violence, including violence against journalists.
In a statement condemning the attack on ZNBC journalists outside police headquarters by UPND cadres on Monday, Kabamba described the harassment of Brian Mwale and Gerald Singwa as unfortunate. The UPND cadres harassed the duo on alleged lack of fair coverage of the UPND by ZNBC. Kabamba expressed concern at the continued harassment of journalists.
"This is a serious affront to press freedom and if left unchecked, Zambia's ranking with regards freedom of the press will continue to slip. Brian and Gerald were simply carrying out their jobs when the cadres threw pan bricks at them, banged on their vehicle and hurled insults at them. Had it not been for the quick action of the police, the duo could have sustained serious injuries," Kabamba said.
She said journalists had an option to blackout people who perpetrated hooliganism. Kabamba stated that it had taken Zambia 48 years to get to where it was today, although the road to destruction through violence could take a shorter period and should therefore not be entertained.
Labels: CADRES, LEAH KABAMBA, PFC, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, THE POST, UPND
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PF won't be taken seriously if they fail to enact FoI - Kabamba
By Kabanda Chulu and Kondwani Munyeka
Fri 02 Mar. 2012, 10:59 CAT
THE PF government will not be taken seriously if they fail to enact the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill as promised, says Press Freedom Committee of The Post chairperson Leah Kabamba.
And several media freedom activists have said the term FoI must be changed to Access to Information (ATI) because it is not only journalists that will benefit when public information becomes accessible.
In an interview yesterday, Kabamba said the right to access information held by public authorities, alongside press freedom, would enhance democracy.
"The FoI Bill was withdrawn in 2002 from Parliament. Since there have been numerous pronouncements that it will be taken back but this has not worked and if this government says they will take it back, that is good but there will be no reason to believe or take the PF government seriously if they fail to honour their promise by July 2012," Kabamba said.
She challenged government to avail to the public the contents of the Bill that would be taken to Parliament.
"The Bill should be all inclusive by having views of all stakeholders and when in place, there will be increased transparency in the manner government operates. Since public bodies do things on behalf of people, the public have the right to request for any information about government activities," said Kabamba.
Last week, information minister Fackson Shamenda announced that government will take the FoI Bill to Parliament this July.
And participants to the budget transparency and access to information training workshop hosted by Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) and the International Budget Partners last week stated that government pronouncements should not be taken for granted.
"There is need for political will and despite having allies in government, we should not take things for granted because politicians are the same," stated the participants. "And there is need to correct the misconception that FoI will only benefit journalists, hence we want it to be referred to as ATI."
Meanwhile, MISA-Zambia says the country's on-going debate about the independence of the state-owned media clearly shows how relevant the media is to the country's growing democracy and development.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, MISA-Zambia acting chairperson Nalumino Nalumino said the media enables individuals to access information and impart ideas in society.
"…It is an indispensable tool in any democracy, especially for a budding democracy like Zambia. MISA-Zambia has for this reason outlined in its strategic plan an objective to enhance media professionalism in the interest of good governance and Zambia's democratic growth," said Nalumino.
Labels: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, LEAH KABAMBA, PF, PFC, PRESS FREEDOM, THE POST
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Media bodies optimistic about FOI Bill
By Ernest Chanda
Mon 08 Mar. 2010, 09:30 CAT
Sheikh Chifuwe with PFC coordinator Leah Kabamba at The Post Newspaper offices
MEDIA bodies in the country have expressed hope that government will implement the Freedom of Information Bill and other Acts as this year’s gift to the industry.
Briefing the media on activities lined up for the World Press Freedom Day which falls on May 3 every year, 2010 World Press Freedom Day organising committee chairperson Sheikh Chifuwe said if media freedom was guaranteed through various pieces of legislation, it would be a great gift to the media fraternity.
Chifuwe said media freedom had been a constant topic in the country because the media industry was under constant threat from various spheres.
“It is our sincere belief that the media freedom has been a constant topic for discussion in this country because its existence is being threatened either by statutory impositions, physical violations, social, political and economic challenges,” Chifuwe said. “It still remains our conviction that the government shall meet the expectations of the people by implementing the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Amendment Act, Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act and Freedom of Information Bill. Our prayer is that these pieces of legislation shall be given to the people as a May 3 gift.”
And Chifuwe disclosed that the committee would introduce a Media Freedom Prize to honour outstanding and courageous institutions and persons in the industry.
“The organising committee is pleased to announce that it will this year introduce a national Media Freedom Prize which honours a person, organisation or institution that has made an outstanding and courageous contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom in Zambia.
We hope this will motivate local media personnel to perform to the public’s expectation in the media reforms,” he said. “We call upon all our people to turn a new page and start demanding for a free press and free speech, without which there can never be justice in any society. The challenge perhaps to those of us in the media industry is to ensure that our people understand this.”
And Media Institute of Southern Africa Zambia Chapter chairperson Henry Kabwe challenged journalists to highlight various issues affecting them.
Kabwe said journalists had suffered a lot of physical and verbal harassment that could not be ignored.
“The greatest challenge we face each year is the harassment of journalists. In the past, politicians have complained that they resort to harassment because we’ve not had a regulatory body where they could complain. But now that we shall soon have the Zambia Media Council, we hope that the same politicians will complain to this council,” Kabwe said.
“I challenge my fellow journalists to publicise activities pertaining to the media. We have written so much about others. We’ve seen journalists covering workers who have gone for four months without pay, but we’ve not seen journalists covering other journalists who have gone without pay for eight months. So, let’s take interest in issues affecting us because no one will write about us.”
The organising committee comprises the Catholic Media Services, Zambia Media Women Association, Media Institute of Southern Africa, and the Zambia Union of Journalists.
Others are the Press Association of Zambia, Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, Press Freedom Committee of The Post, United Nations Information Centre, Panos Southern Africa, Human Rights Commission and the Zambia Commission of UNESCO.
Labels: FOI, LEAH KABAMBA, PRESS FREEDOM, SHEIKH CHIFUWE
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