Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Mike Mulongoti, has advised media practitioners not to abuse the Freedom of Information Bill, once it becomes law.
Mr. Mulongoti urged journalists to responsibly apply the law and avoid using the legislation to frustrate people.
Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Chief Government spokesperson, was speaking on the occasion to mark World Press Freedom Day which fell today.
He said government cherishes freedom of the press and hence called for unity of purpose and enhanced consultation between the media and government on contentious issues of national development.
This year’s Press Freedom Day was commemorated under the them “Freedom of Information and Empowerment of the people.”
And Press Association of Zambia, PAZA, President Amos Chanda urged journalist to continue fighting for the timely enactment of the freedom of information bill.
Mr. Chanda said the bill should be enacted into law during the forthcoming legislative window of Parliament.
He, however, said PAZA is encouraged that government is moving in the direction of taking the bill to Parliament.
Journalists in Zambia today joined counterparts in other parts of the world to commemorate the Press Freedom Day.
In Lusaka the media practitioners gathered at the main Post Office and matched to the Freedom Statue where they were addressed by Mr. Mulongoti.
Asn far as I have been able to determine from where I sit, the only one abusing the Freedom of Information Bill has been His Master’s Voice Mulongoti. And this is even BEFORE the bill has even become law!! Give me a break Mr. Mulongoti! You mean you don’t find something ridiculous in your argument that I read elsewhere that you are not prepared to trust our courts to deliver justice for if it’s gonna take up to ten years for that justice to be delivered? You want different standards for yourselves and a different standard for the rest of us? What an A-hole!!
The opening word in the above should read “As”.