Thursday, March 28, 2024

MISA asks government to seriously address violence as PF cadres attack another journalist

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PF militia...a PF youth wielding a dangerous weapon goes for UPND cadres during the Kabwata violence
File:PF militia…a PF youth wielding a dangerous weapon goes for UPND cadres during the Kabwata violence

Suspected supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) attacked TV journalist, Njenje Chivu, and also seized his camera. The incident occurred on Saturday, 15 June 2013.

Chivu, who reports for the privately-owned Muvi TV, was filming clashes between PF supporters and those from the leading opposition party, the United Party for National Development (UPND) when he came under fire.

The political party clashes happened on the side of a funeral of one of the victims who died during a recent shooting incident in Kampasa where the Zambian National Service (ZNS), a government security wing, was involved in a land dispute.

“When I noticed that one [PF supporter] had seen me filming his fellow cadres, I quickly pulled out the memory card from the camera and gave it to my driver who hid it. Almost immediately, the cadres approached and pulled me aside, asking me not to publish the pictures,” said Chivu.

The journalist says that he was then threatened with unspecified action if he went on to broadcast the footage. Not satisfied with this, the suspected PF supporters went on to punch the journalist at least six times. His camera was then forcibly taken from him and has not yet been returned.

The Zambia Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zambia)has urged the PF-led government to seriously address the issue of violence, which continues to be perpetrated by political party supporters against journalists. These acts of violence are seriously threatening Zambia’s democracy.

“We are saddened that another media freedom violation has been recorded in such a short space of time. On 12 June 2013, suspected PF cadres harassed Father Bwalya and staff of Flava FM Radio on the Copperbelt. A similar incident was recorded in mid-May this year in which another Muvi TV crew was beaten by suspected PF supporters who were alleged trying to take over land illegally from its owner,” said Nalumino Nalumino, MISA-Zambia Chairperson.

He added that the incident in which non-security person suspected to be from the PF confiscated the Muvi TV camera is tantamount to theft. “We demand that the camera be returned and police take quick action to identify the persons who committed this offence,” said Nalumino.

And National Restoration President Elias Chipimo said the image of the country had suffered from the persistent attacks on anybody not deemed to be in toll with the ruling party.

During a prayer meeting recently, PF cadres disrupted a gathering where they beat up congregants with a ZNBC cameraman having to need medical attention after his equipment unsettled the assailants.

12 COMMENTS

  1. Who are these creeps and why do they feel that they are untouchable?? Every Zambian should arm themselves because we need to protect ourselves from these criminal government !

    • Sad that the Executive is silent concerning all these issues…Don’t they see them as a growing cancer in our country??? I have been personally slow to judge others but this silence and seemly non-commitment from Ba Sata and Ba Scott can only suggest that they are in bed with such behaviour or are not concerned at all…a chilling feeling in a now modern Zambia considering the pain and swaet we went through to build our democracy…

  2. what the F**k is wrong with these PF THUGS kanshi?? its it not enough that the their good for nothing president is f**cking up all Zambians already?? Damn! anyhow, that’s what you get,people! that’s exactly what you get for voting for this gorilla leader!! # TONGA POWER!

  3. Remember the guy from Unip time with dictactorial tendancies, strick displinarian??? He later moved to MMD where he was a well known ‘tough guy’, brutally putting down anyone opposing his views and that of his ‘master’! (Chawama township rings a bell?!) Well, he is now the ‘big boss’.
    He can put this violence to a stop if he wanted to, but bcoz it favors HIS party, i doubt he will have the courage to – that and bcoz it looks like violence is party of his nature.
    He is now in charge of the security wings, the judiciary, etc. He is the ‘big boss’!! It is a tragedy that innocent Zambian citizens, who have known peace for time in memorial, are now suffering and dying like chickens. Tragedy!!

  4. Apart from just complaining MISA, PAZA & AWIJ should place the PF on censorship meaning that you just do not cover their events, interviews, etc on private radio and stations and in private print media.

  5. This is what happens when power is handed to the uneducated, lawlessness is here for sometime, this is just the beginning. This stupidity and lawlessness happening in Zambia will only end when we vote in a president who understands laws and can think critically.

  6. i know dis man on photo wit a chain. he z found at kabwata bus station. he sometimes drives mini buses and he z a gonena, igo-igo (conductor at kabwata bus station). he z now looking smart, maybe he was given money 4 such tasks

  7. What happened to that guy in the picture above was he arrested?That chain if it lands on your head chit i can’t image that happening.

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