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MISA
ZAMBIA DISSAPPOINTED BY GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS TO MUZZLE THE MEDIA
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is dismayed
by Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary
Emmanuel Nyirenda’s attempts to ban live phone in programmes
on community and commercial radio stations in the country.
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Mr. Nyirenda’s directive not only violates
media freedom and freedom of expression but is a desperate attempt
by the government to muzzle the media in the run up to the 30
October Presidential by- election.
During times of elections, the media have a duty to provide equal
access to all contending political parties so that they sell
their manifestos to the potential electorate. Radio stations
also have the duty to facilitate interaction between aspiring
political parties and the citizenry and live phone –in
programmes are their lifeblood as long as this is done in line
with the Electoral Code of Conduct.
We urge Mr. Nyirenda to rescind his decision to ban the radio
programmes. In most rural areas where the signals of the Zambia
National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) radio do not reach,
community radio stations serve as important sources of information
on electoral issues generally and aspiring candidates in particular.
The directive by Mr. Nyirenda is undemocratic and violates media
freedom and freedom of expression.
We are worried with the trend by the Ministry of Information
to curtail freedom by the media to provide information to the
electorate through live phone-in political programmes. This is
not the first time this is happening. We recall that during the
run-up to the September 28, 2006 general elections, police visited
Q-FM in an attempt to stop them from providing live coverage
of election events and in 2007, Radio Explorer in Petauke was
threatened with licence revocation for featuring an opposition
leader.
Our belief is that regulation of broadcasting should not be aimed
at “policing” but being responsive to the needs and
growth of the sector.
We would also like to remind community and commercial radio stations
to adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct which require that
they shall provide fair and balanced reporting of campaigns,
policies, meetings, rallies and press conferences of all registered
political parties during the period of the campaigning.
There is need for the Ministry not to be averse with but embrace
increasingly latest technologies in broadcasting. Now, radio
and television stations throughout the world are able to cover
and report on events live as listeners and viewers hear or see
them.
We also call for the immediate implementation of the Independent
Broadcasting Authority (IBA). We have no choice but to believe
the Ministry is dally-dallying to implement the IBA so that they
can continue harassing broadcasting stations in the country.
Once in place, the IBA will regulate the broadcasting industry
in a fair and professional manner and in a way that encourages
growth and sustainability.
Henry Kabwe
CHAIRPERSON
22 SEPTEMEBR 2008
Rashweat Mukundu
Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring
MISA Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: + 264 61 232 975
Fax:+264 61 248016
Mobile: 00 264 813 675 362
E mail rashweat@misa.org, misaalerts@gmail.com
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