Friday, March 29, 2024

Emmanuel Mwamba erred- Kapeya

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Emmanuel Mwamba during the Cabinet  meeting where he was quizzed by President Sata and was later fired
Emmanuel Mwamba during the Cabinet meeting where he was quizzed by President Sata and was later fired

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Mwansa Kapeya has told Parliament that his former permanent secretary Emmanuel Mwamba erred over the issuance of nationwide broadcasting licences to community radio stations.

Mr Kapeya said the law only permitted him as the minister to grant the broadcasting licences, which he never did.
Mr Kapeya said this in Parliament yesterday after issuing a ministerial statement on the appointment of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Board.

“The announcement that the person in question (Mr Mwamba) made on the issuance of licences was just an announcement. The person authorised to issue broadcasting licences is the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, which I did not,” he said.
He told the House that the licences that Mr Mwamba announced were never issued, saying he as the minister was the final person to grant licences.Earlier in his statement, Mr Kapeya said Government as of 2012 issued 21 broadcasting licences to community radio stations.

In a follow-up question, United Party for National Development (UPND) Kalomo Member of Parliament Request Muntanga asked if the 21 licences were among the ones Mr Mwamba announced as being granted.

“The 21 licences mentioned were approved by the ministers who were there before. In fact the licences were never issued,” Mr Kapeya responded.

He said when the Patriotic Front (PF) Government came into power, it found a backlog of applications for radio and television licences.

The ministry, he said, consulted if it could proceed to issue licences without the IBA Board in place.

He said the minister at the time was guided by the Attorney General (AG) that the President could authorise the issuance of the licences in the absence of the IBA.

He said the minister was later given authority by the President to issue the licences and proceeded to form the licence committee comprising officers from the ministry of Justice, office of the President- Special Division, Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and officers from his ministry.

“The committee was chaired by the Permanent Secretary in my ministry and worked well becausee the backlog of applications was processed and that 21 full broadcasting licences have been issued since 2012,” he said.

Recently, Mr Mwamba announced that Government had granted nationwide broadcasting licences to Radio Phoenix and QFM Radio.

[Times of Zambia]

18 COMMENTS

  1. We beg Mr. Kapeya not to use the language of politics all time. If all Mr. Mwamba did was to announce and licences were not actually issued, then why not simply ask him to reverse the announcement? In any case when this issue came out it was made clear by the head of state that the ‘gentleman’ did actually issue the licences and that was what upset the president. Who are you trying to fool Mr. Kapeya? Just accept your mistakes as Minister and seek forgiveness from the people. Political jargon will not undo what was already done!

    • @mushota if this country pisses you off as you claim, why are constantly reading our news?why do you keep following whats going on in zed?
      you are just a hypocritical little maggot.we have been to places better than you are!
      its easy to tell your character!!i know you very unhappy were you are?????
      find GOD for your own good.

    • @This Serious
      Mushota lives in Ukraine probably a student working as a Bar man. People in ukraine call him/her monkey every day. That is the reason why he is always here on lusaka times. He feels safe and loved when he blogs. Live us hard for black people in former USSR countries.

  2. We need to have a number of broadcasting station to promote media freedom. What are we afraid of ? We are denying Zambians the freedom of information. Remember these are the same station the ruling party used when in opposition. Reflect on your campaign promises.

  3. Subterfuge! Why was the President blazing with rage if the licences were not issued and much more why did you retire Mwamba is he did not do what he is alleged to have done; issuing licences. And better still, why dont you issue the licences since you are from the media industry and you were bragging that PF would free airwaves?!

  4. Am still hurt over the firing of this handsome intelligent young man. If he erred, why couldnt you just issue a warning atleast three times doesnt he deserve that? he has to have rights as well, i have been mad about Lubindas Displacement and now this? Surely this is not fair, what about his family, carreer, the Zambian people he could have served diligently? Please do something and bring him back or just send him somewhere, how do you destroy a person in this manner? You Zambians have no hearts this is equal to killing someone think before you act!

  5. Ba Kapeya, stop lying at least. How do you say the president lied when he informed the nation that Mr Mwamba issued licenses to QFM and Radio Phoenix? This govt is full of shifting positions, statements and policies. Pls Mr Mwansa stop embarrassing the high office. PF this is the problem of appointing people on tribal lines, some of these people have no capacity to even protect they boss.

  6. presido fires someone for issuing licenses

    minister comes back n says actually he did not issue any licenses, he simply announced

    conclusion: presido is a liar as usual

    laugh out loud!

  7. How do you protect an indisciplined boss sure? Ala mwebena Zambia muleiluka. The person in charge of this country is Fred Mmembe and he has an agenda which he is almost fulfilling now, he has no interest in politics however, he aim is to get this dull and predictable zed society accept homosexuality! So far the first lady has fallen into this trap. This was what was promised to him by thexxxxxxxxxxx for delivering the presidency to Mr sata. Guy Scott, Kabimba KK and others had to call Mmembe back from America where he “studying” to come and beef up support to fight Mwamba. Ba Sata knows why he hired Mwamba, but because he is ailing and has no say, he had to behave in a manner he did during that cabinet meeting. Mmembe never approved the hiring of Mwamba and he never stopped…

  8. Kapeya should also be fired now that he has exposed himself!
    He should have known what was going on in his ministry!

    Woe to all whose bosses are like Kapeya!
    Learn now how to manage your bosses.
    Get their written word before doing anything!
    Of course he is trying to save his job at all costs.

    The main issue was not the licenses pe se but the contract Mwamba cancelled.
    A lot of fingers were in the till and therefore Mwamba was pecieved a threat to their hidden interests in this contract!

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