THE long-awaited Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) has been launched, with the National Governing Council (NGC) to be chaired by cleric, Paul Mususu.
Information, Broadcasting and Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda, speaking during the launch in Lusaka yesterday, said the Government would give conditional backing to the self-regulatory body and that it would keenly watch developments to see whether the media would effectively regulate themselves.
ZAMEC was officially launched at the new Government Complex at a ceremony attended by Information Deputy Minister Mwansa Kapeya and Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga.
Members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of various political parties, and media heads attended the launch at which the NGC was also unveiled.
The vice-chairperson of the NGC is Rumbidzai Mutasa, a representative of the Law Association of Zambia, while other members are Press Association of Zambia president Andrew Sakala, University of Zambia senior lecturers Kenny Makungu, Mickie Mumba, Swithen Haangala and Mulenga Kabiti.
Others are Lee Habasonda, Sister Sililo Nawa, Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council executive director Engwase Mwale, and Susan Musukuma.
Mr Shamenda, however, said the Government could only endorse ZAMEC if it was availed with the resolutions of the general meeting held at Cresta Golf View Hotel yesterday and the constitution.
He reiterated Government’s commitment to a free Press in Zambia.
Bishop Mususu said the NGC was delighted that the minister had attended the launch and praised the Government’s stance on free media.
He thanked other NGC members for the confidence they had in him and electing him chairperson and pledged to work to the best of his ability.
ZAMEC, a brainchild of the Media Liaison Committee, is a body that would arbitrate for the public and the media against any infringement.
United Nations Development Programme country director Viola Morgan said the media had an important role in promoting sustainable development and the maintenance of peace and security of any country.
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung programme manager Kathy Short said the organisation’s cooperation with the Zambian media had been a long-standing partnership which it valued because of the importance of a free media in any democracy.
Ms Short said if media freedom was the barometer of the democratic order, the adopted system of self or statutory regulation showed the degree of media freedom in any given country.
[Times of Zambia]
The only media house who will not respect this body is The Post newspaper as they think n one is good enough to oversee them. This will be the weak link in the scheme.
The Post wanted to bribe the Media liason committe with 99million to be in the council,when left they brot comfusion at golfview and later Mmembe ordered the post rep at the meeting to withdraw..shame on POST
Mmembe and the post your days are numbered, its high time factual and fair reporting on national issues are promoted and not Vandeta based reporting propagated by the post should be entertained…..
boy  don’t speak with sleep mind……………post newpaper is the best paper….and they have best guy there………..so what are u talking about kid