Information and Broadcasting Minister Joseph Katema has cautioned online media against propagating hatred and tribal conflict.
Dr Katema who is also Chief Government spokesperson said that even though internet has improved delivery of information, the media should not be used to disseminate hate messages and stir tribal conflict.
He said this in a press statement issued to ZANIS by First Secretary for press and Public Relations at the permanent mission of the republic of Zambia to the UN Chibaula Silwamba.
Dr Katema observed that some online publishers hide behind anonymity, and remain a secret society without a thread of journalism principles.
He charged that online media is promoting citizen journalism where untrained people engage in reporting information of community interest using internet and other modern technology.
The Minister said government is concerned with the mudslinging and defamation on the online media and will endeavour to protect the rights of its citizens.
The Minister appreciated the media’s noble responsibilities and said journalists have an impeccable duty to seek the truth and provide fair and comprehensive account of issues.
Dr Katema appealed to media stakeholders to support training of journalists in media ethics and law.
The Minister was speaking at a panel discussion organised by the Zambian Mission to UN and the Centre for Media and Peace Initiatives (CMPI) under the theme reconstruction of Journalism; Credibility and Identity Crises in the Fourth Estate.
And speaking at the same function, former UN Information Officer Carole Marchal and CMPI president Uchenna Ekwo reiterated Dr Katema’s sentiments that journalists must adhere to laws and ethics to reconstruct the image of the media industry.
The media shud be very careful on this issue.
kansi New york is nice mwe,,, just these few days Dr katema has put on some weight, he looks browner and healthy indeed,,,,, i dont know if its the pressure from Sata which makes his ministers look useless, sick and dirty,,,,, to all Zambians in USA thanks for taking care of Dr katema,,,, and please next time invite Mr Shamenda maybe he will look clean
And online media Dr katema,, get used and live with it,, online media is here to stay with its `insults`,,,,, ask Obama how online media from the south `ìnsult` him
Ba Ndobo just admit it you have an inferiority complex because for you if someone looks “browner” then they are healthy and more attractive. Most Coconut blacks instinctively think lighter skin is better than dark skin
@ubuntungwa
being browner i refer to is not inferiority complex,,,,,, Dr Katema looks browner and cleaner in that photo from New york relative to other photos taken of him in Zambia were is dirtier and darker,,,,,,
Am not racial sensetive and racial twisted like you in South africa,,,,,am black with a black skin (with NO intention to change) ,,,and I speak with a lozi accent with pride
Maybe they used a better camera to take the photo of Dr Katema!
How many chief government spokesperson have we had since they came to power, and when did this man become GS and Inform minster and just what happened to Mr Mwansa?
so far I know about 3 i think
@Ndobo, no boi ku New York kuno kwalilamba, and if someone come to be polished in NY like Katema, then where he comes from ninshi katwishi ifyo kwaba.
I saw BaMuka Yama Christina in New York city…. by Penn Station. Even though she fits in her size with the Back Americans, but still she was standing out. The one I saw was Bamuka Ba Sata for real…
#1.1 You must be one of the BIGGEST iiddiioottss on earth. Can’t just discuss relevant issues instead of being so petty to discuss an individual. Zambia can never progress with iiddiioottss like you. Don’t waste other progressive peoples’ time who may think your contribution may be worth reading before the actually read it. And when they start reading only to discover that it was actually written by an iiddiioottss, therefore, its rubbish. Meanwhile, they just wasted their time.
@Peter, why are you attacking an individual instead of discussing issue 1.1 brought up? Who is biggest iiddiott then?
Ati “progressive”, imwe Ba Peter is that you call yourself progressive?
1.8 @Nostradamus
You have a point, but the fact is ndobo you will agree contributes nothing and talks more nonsense than sense 87% of the time, if only he can learn from his friend you he will be worthy reading his comments.
nothing personal but ndobo is a useless contributor almost all the time.His writing etiquette are embarrassing.
S Tembo
(Lecturer UNZA)
Is Micheal Sata amongst “Some Online publishers?”
He s caution the opposition yet on wack ZNBC Its “Micheal Sata said on his facebook page.”
First caution Sata then come to us…
@Hypnotized Mind, I am still laughing. That’s hilarious, caution Sata first.
Hahahah in a “public participatory”, “democracy” its clear that ,”Guerrilla journalism” yabasiliza nzelu pakapala. Its simple, just do the right things and this citizen journalism will be there to drive you into building a better Zambia. Fighting Zambians will see you defeated refuges in Cuba where you are stuffing our money if ever you will be luck to escape the international noose already activated.
since when is that new technology. how far behind are you old man
This is very true. Some of these online publications frame contentious headlines that incite slanderous and libellous comments from a selected cabal of bloggers who peddle the same political agenda. They don’t even bother to block or censor them at the same time as they block those with dissenting views. The quality of reporting does not even meet the minimum standards of journalism. In one such publication to day, there is a picture of a known woman with a full breast shown. Sure any trained journalist would have blocked those private parts from the readers. No doubt the unsuspecting woman must be regretting for having posed for those photos in the quest to have her suspect punished. It is so shocking and shameful to read and see some of these things in a Christian nation.
@judy
thats guerilla journalism, so dont expect any minimum or maxium standard,,,, guerillas abush get their target and run back into hiding,,,,,,,, because PF has pangas to kill opposition so its game on
Whats wrong with a breast being shown?
The photo I saw on the mighty ZWD was meant to show wounds on a breast. But because your mind is filled with filthy, you did not even see the wound but only saw a breast. Am sure you are the kind of pig who would not allow a male doctor to see the naked of your sick wife
@Mujambojambo, its very wrong to see those, especially some leader’s wife. As second winner in romancing, I agree with Judy. A man need to “dream, imagine, what kind of tatoo in on it.. ” A man need to respect a woman, in fact best to do it in dark… it has to be sacred. Not your women, ati “ndaifulila”.
I totally, support Dr Katema’s sentiments. Journalism in Zambia especially with most if not all online publications has totally gone to dogs. Therefore, there’s no professionalism practiced in this publication by journalists. Largely, this is because any jim and jack is writing for these publications without any qualification of some sort. Most of them are just school livers if not an equivalent of Grade 7s. To solve this problem I am suggesting that the law be enacted in Zambia that disallows any one below a minimum education not to write about any issues of certain critical nature. As they are not qualified enough to even be accountable. Electronic journals that filter through to Zambia must publish names of all journalists who contribute in their publications so that they can be held…
..from #5.4.
responsible for any defamation of character or other offenses such as tribalism and racism incitation and hate. Otherwise such publications must never be allowed to filter through to Zambia. Zambia never knew this tribalism and racism. It is Zambians overseas who are importing it into Zambia when they learn from other African countries especially the western and eastern. I mean I like the freedom of expression but what is happening in our online publications can set our country on fire. Because, they are mainly sponsored by failing politicians who use them to destabilize the country as they have got nothing to lose politically. Journalism of hate must not be encouraged in Zambia.
I agree with ubuntungwa mu jambo jambo after all in the immediate past us Africans moved around naked(ne mibende).
mean’t imibinde not mibende!
@ Ubuntungwa Mujambojambo and Agressive Muntanga I wonder if you would parade your loved ones naked in the name of past Africans or better still walk naked on the streets. This is the same kind of mentality the Minister is complaining about of hiding behind anonymity. This is cowardly. Lets use this wonderful tool, the internet, to share information and Knowledge for which it was created please and this is not demanding of us.
@Lily
dont get worked up,,,,,,, just maybe the lady is okay with her tits going public,,,,, ivi vintu ni consent,,,,
Requesting for consent from someone to commit an offence is punishable. For example you cannot seek consent to kill someone. Even if they did consent, the law would visit you and no learned journalist would do this. Anyone would now see why Zambian online publications are being complained about because they are un ethical. If you break the law on the blogs in developed countries, they trace and arrest you.
@Lily & Judy please stop bringing on these ama titty issue, muletwimya ifintu. This is what Katema is talking about. You ladies are abusing us right now.
Couldn’t you think of something else….
katema looks really horrible and sickly on zambian watchdog photo, despite the free food at parliament. is it a case of too much beer or too much “food”?. at the rate this govt is going, they will start thinking of regulating gossip every where. waste of time, just do the correct things that is all, no body will bother, but with what you are doing, there will be more of these sites coming up
Katema should ask himself why the media has insatiable appetite to write stories that are often hard to swallow about PF.
Your heavy hand on journalism has made online media to engage in guerilla journalism. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Knowingly you are garroting journalism therefore you should be ready for the negative repercussions. Without your dictatorial tendencies the online media cannot be unruly.
Change your game plan and be more democratic and you will be justified to pass those sentiments.
The government should just do what they must do to protect innocent victims. online publishers are not even journalists.
You heard that right Zambia watchdog ! Don`t say you were not warned.
First culprit Is hh and upnd. That party is so tribal and backward. Posting lies on the net and brain washing people that this silly Tonga goat(bull wana be) is presidential material. Those carders in ndola should sorted this boy out. Anyway 2016 is near, no primitive mapatizya formula.
what your problem you guys.brown black or whatever…why shud you ague about perty issues. me mauless…
Katema made a fool of himself, He came all the way to US to whine and complain to the wrong people, UN won’t do anything for you, they support all kinds of media, they won’t
deprive people of information.
@NDOBO
I dont agree with your comment on Hon Katema. I know this man very well and I dont think he deceive your discriminatory statement. Being slim or dark or having good attire or structure doesnt mean anything. Some people dress well while others is on other things. What is even more disappointing is that you even ridicule those who want to correct you. You never know, maybe you belong to the class am thinking about.
Stool-pid @ndobo
In western world where they respect human rights any journalist who posts wrong stuff would very quickly dance to legal battles that can leave him or her bankrupt or in jail for slandering, insulting, or many other vices. People there respect each other’s rights. I even wonder some people in diaspora can use zambian online publications to throw mud at officials in Zambia. Where they are now they can’t do that. They fear being dragged to court. Its a shame very few have yet been treated the way they treat others – make wrong journalist messages and face the legal persuit.
Unfortunately wrong stuff is not defined by you. Facebook would have been closed a long time ago
My dear wrong stuff is defined by norms, values and standards that society prescribes itself. Human Rights are norms, values and standards. Each one has rights but exercising one’s rights should not step over other people’s rights. The Right to express oneself does not mean to start insulting others who have rights as well, posting false informations, derogatory about others and what have you which affect others. To protect themselves from excesses of other free men and women you need legal arbitration, to be fair for everyone.
He travels all the way to New York on tax payers money, only to talk about the Zambian Watchdog. He cant even mention a single progressive idea regarding media development. What a loss!!!!
now that katema has taken some ARVs and put on a little bit of weight he goes to NY to attack online journalism. sick ministers in pf with sick minds.wasting tax payer’s money
hi all, go to ZWD and you will find a good photo of this Katema. looks like ZWD is a real opposition in Zambia to be attacked in NY, a wrong place to attack journalists.
The PF regime must blame itself for “guerrilla” journalism which is a direct consequence of dictatorial tendencies of President Sata. Three years into office, the man has virtually instructed police not to allow political rallies. He has never held a press briefing. What does he expect?
Ba Dr. Joseph Katema, ‘ala tekeni amatak…. pansi’. Mileni a-mate. You are better advised to explore better avenues to get credible information. Try to Google to get free authentic information on health matters.
Apparently, Zambians are well informed by the private online media. Even the OP personnel avoid the Post and other public media just to get more reliable information that sharpens and oils their investigative machinery. As 2016 draws near, Dr. Katema and many PF Ministers should strive to be born-again by being truthful to Zambians.