Change or Die Zambia Initiative Founder, Father Frank Bwalya has opposed the introduction of the proposed statutory regulation of the media saying the move will cartel press freedom in the country.
Father Bwalya said in an Interview in Kitwe today that the media has a social responsibility role to provide truthful and comprehensive information to the public and needs to operate in a free environment.
He further said the media industry is different from any other service delivery organisation because it plays a social responsibility role of providing truthful and comprehensive information to the masses.
He said the proposed statutory regulation is aimed at controlling the media, which he stated should be self regulated, to offer checks and balances to the Government of the day.
“We have opposed media regulation before and we are still opposing government’s proposal to regulate the media.” he said.
Father Bwalya stated that the media is capable of exposing corruption and all the dirty works in society.
He said in a democratic society like Zambia, the media should not be regulated and controlled as this reduces media freedom and media power.
Ikay can someone please tell me, is this Change or Die Fimo fimo registered ku registrar of societies????? LOL
Yaba meant to say OKAY…ya chizungu….
Well said, Fr.
There is need for Fr Bwalya to outline the Principles of his foundation so that us who are eager for change can join him. I really want a changed Zambia, not where we have left the governance to old timers who do not project ahead. revolution does not come easily it either you change or die for zambia.
Thats the way to go Fr. B, you are now where you wanted to be(political fimo fimo head on ! )
Fr Bwalya has a point but which self-regulation is he talking about? It is a fact that some Media organisations have printed/ transimitted falsehoods without being punished.Who is suppose to punish the organisations printing/ transimitting falsehoods? MISA? and what are the consequences of printing/ transimitting falsehoods so that they can act as deterrents to these unscruplous media organisations?
Fr bwalya, I wish you well in the political arena and sooner or later,we will hear a political party in the namo of Change or Die Zambia .What a name!
RB has come full swing to intimidate the media….Let the little freedom of press which there prevail…yashani kanshi….iwe chiLupiya
Abena Amos Chanda what is contained in the same instrument…..You just got a promotion from veep….you need to know what is cooking….is it to silence you or what….I know good Lawyers and journalists are either bought or killed by the state….I know what I am taking about.what happened to Savoiur Mwamba , Richard Ngenda shot in cold blood and staged road accident
Soon you hear Fr Bwalya has been posted to Vatican…..We need more brave young Zambians to come out and critic the Goverment constructively..Lets join in every body it seems it is only Bembas are talking…maybe balechita ichi buya nabena Bwezani….or is it something of a National interest
I would like a word with Fr. Bwalya. Anybody has his contact? We need change for sure.
Attention seeker. That’s all there is to him. He should come out in the open if he is a politician.
No# 10 Inkani yamu Kachasu, it is not only Bembas talking and do not even bring about tribal politics, I am from the Eastern provence too of the Thumbuku Lineage, but I am against Bandas obscure policies 366 days in a year; for to stop ths tyranny we shall have to stay focused that long even though a year counts 365 days and a fraction. We as the youth and those of old that are wise too should take up the mantle. Zambia is undeveloped because of gross mismanagement and the stiffling of information by the then Kaunda government, which RB was a part of. Olympia Chick! if you are out there back my statements up. 2009 and they government wants to take away our freedon of speech. This is the reason we put Heritage, PF and UPND as opposition to sound the cry on our behalf. The should start
They should start marching and campaigning. Why are they in opposition if it takes only us the citizens to speak out first, which is good, but the need to start acting like the opposition that is the next government in waiting in deeds and words.
#10 and #13, Stop talking tribal stuff. It is really boring. Don’t take the silence of other tribes for granted. It just takes one day for things to change. Nobody is just sitting on their backsides and only watching. However, your points are still interesting in the sense that yes we need change as you are saying. But we shouldn’t reduce that to which tribe is talking too much and which ones are clueless and quiet. Never underestimate the hunger of your quiet neighbour – if you understand what I’m saying!!
The truth is an offence but nt a sin! if you die for the truth you have a place in the hearts of many zambians people suffering wantin change for better living. Please you the press we need…at this time. Investigate were necesary, try to put more funds into investigative ventures. If you expose big stories again and again you will have more and more support of the people. Remember the peoples support is what you need. Inform the people open thr eyes with your stories, when the people speak out they use the same media. What happened with Fr Bwalya was a blow to the voice of reason. When shit hits the Fan some people say ahhh no me i dnt knw Fr bwalya this n that. we are letting Fr Bwalya be crucified by corupt people who dnt care bout zambia. Hw can the church be forced to suck Fr Bwalya?
Kokoliko No# 15 I was reaffirming the fact that as other tribes we are awake not on tribal lines but as Zambian people. I never have and shall never tolerate tribal preference in office. It is what contributed to our current problems tremendously. We stand as one Zambia united for our parents and our children, for truth Justice and our wellbeing. Thanks Kokoliko I shall not bring about tribe but educate our brothers and sisters on the need to move towards the gift of truth and development that God gave us to pursue.
No#15 Kokoliko ta leka. No #13 Inkani yamu Kachasu is one of the bloggers on this thread that contributes wisely. Thus you words are accepted humbly. One Zambia One nation in God’s hands.
The regulatory body is welcome only to the extent that GRZ will have no say whatsoever over it. The truth is nice especially when said without dilution. Independent media reveals the truth. Media operates well in a free environment. The truth is loved by all those who do well and hated by those who live corruptly. The truth will never lie. The truth need not to be defended. It is nice especially when said in its entirely. Friends of the truth will champion the independency of the media and those with hidden agendas will always have problems with the independent media. Let people protect themselves through hearing the truth than government to protect them by withholding the truth. VIVA independent truth and abash truth obstruction.
The name needs editing, for 2 reasons, firstly the phrase does not fit well in onventional english (i am aware it might make sense in Kitwe/Buchi bemba/english), secondly it is vry provocative becuse of the inclusion of the wrod ‘die’.
—-conventional…….very………word…
Finshi alefwaya uyu umupatili kanshi?
I have been thinking that Change or Die Zambia Initiative is still just an initiative hence not registered as a body. Anyhow, there is really need for the younger and progressive Zambians to come up with initiatives that can trully liberate the Zambian masses from the shackles of poverty.
I am really proud of Fr Bwalya’s stance and shall support the cause should he need financial support.
Can anyone with contact information with the our young Father pass him my email address: [email protected]. Change or Die Zambia
Die Zambia is a sectarian Cult idea taking you nowhere.We had Mama Alice Lenshina sect make people drink urine and blood in the name of freedom and vision.This Die Zambia too is a sectarian lead by a cult leader with hopes of dupping some weak and desperate souls for sacrifice.He hoped to fuel genocide but vigilant Zambians have put him in a difficult predicament to manuveur.Likely instead of Zambia he is wishing to die, i predict its him like Lenshina, Simbwende or Mushala.
Senior Citizen, You really surprise me. Maybe you are not a real senior. The MMD started as a movement and has remained like that to date. You can equally form your own club as long as it is within the law and people will join you instead of just being an armchair critic. Come on Zambians, lets not be progressive and respect every individual’s views in a free and civilised world. Change or Die Zambia should be interpreted objectively.
This Fr. Bwalya’s initiative will become an opposition political party, just wait and see…”Change or Die Zambia” what? Ngamatalikilo aya!
oops, I meant: ,,,,,lets be progressive and respect every individual’s……………………
If he wants to form a political party, then let him go ahead. There is no law which which can stop him and he will not force anyone to join, will he?
#6 Sharp Shooter, the duty to punish erring media in Zambia, as elsewhere in the world should rightly rest with our courts of law! Aggrieved parties should seek refugee in the law of the land which adequately protects everyone, citizens as well as media practitioners from abuse by way defamation, libel and the like. Such law already exists. We perhaps only need to “strengthen” the law so that abusers, practitioners and citizens alike, are effectively punished. Once this is done, it won’t be necessary even for government to “control” or seek to control the media, public or private.
CONT’D…And of course, hand in hand with that you need better training for the mediocre Zambian journalists before you can talk of improving their conditions of service, unlike today where they all want salary increments for the sub-standard work they put out!! An improved compensation package for them should only follow improved performance, not vice-versa!!
mule, Democracy has come to stay in Zambia but sectarianism of these sects dupping you has no future or space.That Bwalya pharisee is a doomed cult fanatic in the lines of Mama Alice Lenshina where Sata and Josaya Chishala come from.He can transform his Die Die Zambia cult movement but remain in evolving in a dunjoin of doom.Its clear that you have no clue on the foundation and spirit of MMD.You are narrowed to the political activism of the time without clue of the East/West conflict political primacy.The cold war is over and the role Freedom House and other political intermetrics of primacy have little to fear.You do not expect Jimmy Carter to come and camp in Zambia until your Die Zambians sect reigns. That is a utopian world view you need sanitized from.
Ching Chong, you are right. Muliko nobututu panono. Nabobwaku Bulangililo Kwacha Kwacha filya so. He is not a well-read as well otherwise he would not say the media should not be regulated. If not regulated how is he expecting to treat false stories?
We are led to believe there is Freedom of Speech in Zambia. Just open your mouth too wide and see what happens.
Yesterday Radio Ichengelo clocked 13 years of existance. People were asked what they thought of the Station. One thing that impressed me most was that un like ZNBC no opinion was filtered or censored. Some people out rightly condemed the station especially former manager Fr Bwalya while others said they were very happy with Ihengelo. All these opinions were aired and from these one was able to make an informed idea on the subject. That is what freedom of the press is all about.
MECOZ was a good idea in 1998/9 when it was initiated, but it has been hijacked by people like Sr Rose Nyondo who has never practiced journalism per se. She is on a mission to silence the Post, that is the problem. You never hear her condemn the one-sidedness of the state media as was recently exposed by Morgan Chonya, the ZUJ president. The Post are right on this one. On this one, I totally agree with umwaice Frank on principle.
#11 Woman of substance the cell no. for Father Frank Bwalya is +260966903497
Have the inhabitants of this blog gone into hiding?
#11 Woman of substance..Dont listen to Research scientist…the cell no. for Father Frank Bwalya is +260966900897
You are right, Rev. Fr. Bwalya, your contributions are valid and well intentioned. The current political environment in Zambia is not supporting democratic principles, but kangaroo operations. RB is trying hard to muzzle the independence of the media so as to propagate his own undemocratic leadership. Why is it that a post vendor in Solwezi got beaten by mmd thugs, and RB has said nothing to discourage such kind of hooliganism? Leave the media alone to function professionally. Imagine if Zambia had no private media like The Post, the maffia situation by govt leaders could be worse. Go forward, Zambia. I hope RB wont be give a second mandate to rule our country again; he really doesn’t have much to offer. Probably he can be productive at his farm.
i think its high time we became serious with our country. I support Fr Frank, indeed if we dont change, zambia will die. We have left power in wrong hands for a long time. We all know that RB is not the best for this country. There are better pipo who could have ruled this country and made a difference. Most of us never wanted an old man in power. Just look at things now, he has no agenda for us but he wants to bring back the old politics of hooliganism. Zambians, lets change. Lets learn to fight for good. As for me am ready to join. We need to get up and fight for this country. Indeed change or die zambia.!!!!!
Govt should not even dare on this one. This is a potential time bomb. Leave the media alone. Period!
#39 Katutwa. Why is it that a post vendor in Solwezi got beaten by mmd thugs, and RB has said nothing to discourage such kind of hooliganism? Leave the media alone to function professionally. Imagine if Zambia had no private media like The Post, the maffia situation by govt leaders could be worse. Go forward, Zambia. I hope RB wont be give a second mandate to rule our country again; he really doesn’t have much to offer. Probably he can be productive at his. LOOKING AT THE GOINGS ON WE ARE BACK TO VIGILANTE. HAVE YOU HEARD DR. KAUNDA SAY A THING AGAINST RB? HE WAS VOCAL AGAINST LPM. RBs MODUS OPERANDUM IS KKs STYLE. “YOU GO BY AIR.” EVEN THOSE IN MMD ARE NOT SAFE, ASK MUSOSHA(MP). POLICE CANNOT TOUCH THESE THUGS FOR FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOBS. LETS JUST PRAY TO THE ALMIGHTY.
The Daily Telegraph has just exposed MPs expenses claims. The Zambia Post newspaper recently exposed the RP Capital scandal and the Mobile Hospitals deal.
If the media was regulated by the state, would the tax payers have known what their elected representatives do behind the scenes?
Fr. Bwalya is very right and should be supported.
Is Fr Frank still single?
i am single LOL
#44 MAPIPILI. Lets stick to the topic.
dEja Vu
wats ur story.
Fr bwalya is just simandola who needs guidance.
#32. Tom Na Jerry, it’s you who is displaying “ubututu”. Read my post at #. The law is already there to check against abuse by both practitioners and ordinary citizens. Look it up under the statues covering libel/defamation. What you’re suggesting is like passing another constitution to regulate the constitution! It’s superfluous! Whichever country you’re in within the EU, check you’ll find they have no specific law regulating their media. Media in the western world basically regulate themselves, as suggested by Fr. Bwalya. Check your facts before you expose your ignorance to the world.
#47 above should have been: “read my post at #29 and 30…”
In case you dont get through on the number given try also 0966 903497 or 0955 903497