“My government has travelled a considerable distance in upholding and entrenching sound legal and regulatory standards for freedom of expression, information and a free, independent and pluralistic media. We recognize these freedoms as crucial to the development of sustainable, positive governance and democratic process,” he said.

Banda’s positive pronouncement has cheered a cross section of society, especially media freedom activists and practitioners working for various media institutions in the country.  MISA-Zambia Chairperson, Daniel Sikazwe said the pronouncement that the government is putting measures to ensure freedom of the information and expression as well as freedom of free, independent and pluralistic media which President Banda recently came barely two weeks after the vice president told parliament that the media in the country is capable of regulating itself.

“President Rupiah Banda’s statement has come just two weeks after the vice president assured parliament that there was need of imposing statutory regulation as the media was making positive strides towards self regulation,” he said.

Sikazwe, who described the pronouncements as positive developments in Zambia’s recent media fraternity, and stressed the need for the media personnel to uphold professionalism and exhibit maturity in their duties. He said President Banda’s pronouncement can only be actualized if a new paradigm shift on professional media coverage is introduced in the country, a situation he said could only be possible if there is constant dialogue and sound relation between the media and the government.

“The president made the pronouncement in view of the media’s role of providing the public with information, and this is very crucial in the process of achieving sustainable positive governance and democratic development. This can only be made possible through liaison and mutual understanding between the media and the Government.

Meanwhile, Media Liaison Committee Spokesperson Amos Chanda challenged the government not to politicize the issues of self media regulation which he said was central in fostering democracy in the country. Chanda, who is also Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) vice president, said such pronouncements should be accompanied by actions, adding that most African political leaders were good at making ‘blank statements’ as mere campaign strategies.

Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) president Anthony Mulowa said the recent statements by Government raises hope and builds confidence in media practitioners. Mulowa said the remarks which the vice president made in Parliament on the positive strides the media is making towards self regulation, coupled with President Banda’s recent statement indicates that the government is appreciating the contribution of the media to the development of the country.

“Such statements should cheer journalists because they are a sign that the Zambian government is appreciating the role and contribution of the media to the overall development process of the country”, said Mulowa. //End//


Reagan Malumo
Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht St
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
Phone: +264 61 232 975
Fax: +264 61 248 016
Mobile: +264 81 311 2626
Official Email: reagan(@)misa.org
Private Email: reagan32002(@)yahoo.com

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