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Fr. Bwalya’s arrest violates media freedom and journalists’ right to communicate information without fear or favour. It is worrying and saddening that journalists who are merely facilitating the free flow of information and exchange of views by the public are being hindered from performing their work.

The views expressed by listeners on the radio programme must be respected as part of Zambia’s ethos of freedom of expression. Instead of arresting journalists, the government must take note of public views and concerns on the electoral process during the just ended Presidential by election and take necessary steps to address them.

MISA Zambia would like to urge any individual or institution that is aggrieved over the ethical conduct of the media to use correct channels such as the Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ). We also urge the media to be responsible in their day-to-day duties. As we have stated before, there is need for a culture of dialogue whenever concerns on media ethical conduct arise.

We call upon the Police to immediately release Fr. Bwalya from detention and drop all charges levelled against him in the interest of democracy and media freedom.


Henry Kabwe
CHAIRPERSON


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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