The media Liason committee (MLC) says the media fraternity has developed a self regulatory body that will ensure accountability and professionalism of the media in Zambia.
According to a statement obtained by ZANIS, today, the MLC says it has made consultations locally on the matter saying in this same score some individuals will on Monday travel to South Africa and Kenya to study how those countries are running their media self-regulatory frameworks.
The other countries to be toured include Tanzania and Bostwana.
The MLC says in the statement that the media bodies have taken time to ensure that the self-regulation process in Zambia is done in an inclusive and consultative manner to avoid failure.
It says years after it comes up with a workable self regulatory framework, the country’s media bodies needed a different approach to come up with a system that will learn from other countries, professionals and media councils.
” The framework that has been developed will serve as a guide for us to share notes with our Southern African counterparts. There can never be press freedom and freedom of expression if the media is regulated through statutory means, ” reads the statement in part.
The committee has urged government, politicians , civic society and the general public to join in supporting self regulation for the media in the country.
The committee comprises the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA),Press Association of Zambia (PAZA), THE Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) and the Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Dissaminators(ZUBID).
Others include the Zambia Media Women Association(ZAMWA, PANOS Southern Africa, Catholic media services and the Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of the Post newspapers.
ZANIS
There are a lot of such bodies in Zambia but very toothless lets see what this one will be doing all the best
I would like to see another body that ‘regulates’ the The media Liason committee (MLC)
But the same media vowed never to subscribe to any self or Government media regulatory body but today they are begging to eat their ow words.Whats going on in Zambia?
Let’s see how far they can take it on the the road to freedom,,,
Thats true #3 From Samfya the media had vowed not to subscribe to the media regulation, but accepting to put up a regulation it means they have compromised themselves. They will be legalising something that is iligitimate.
These people have now seen through their own folly. It doesn’t pay to blindly follow some arrogant and opinionated editors at the Post who are bent on planting seeds of discord in the nation. They have got such disgruntled reporters who even add their person opinion in a news article and their editors can’t differentiate facts from personal biased views as long as it is anti-government or anti-MMD. You better hurry or the boma will regulate you!
George Kunda has for a long time now made it a habit to attack M’Membe, the Post and all MMD enemies, real and perceived, in parliament knowing only too well that he cannot be sued for made most of these clearly malicious and wholly baseless allegations. It is therefore my hope that the next government is going to waive his immunity so that Kunda can have a chance to defend himself against law-suits from people he has slandered using the vail of parliamentary immunity as protection. Just like he caught AIDS from unprotective s.e.x., let the vail off this fool so that he can rendezvous with his foes in the courts where the playing field is levelled.
If this new body takes the form of MECOZ, you will still be doomed guys. That Sr Rose Nyondo should be caged in a convent instead of earning millions of Kwacha sitting on the ZNBC and MECOZ boards where she makes dubious decisions in favour of HERB, the MMD and government.
In Zambia Sef regulatory of the media will be chaos, watch my words. Let the Govt regulate them, there’s np order in zed media..My observation thus far!
The media bodies should have also submitted some conditionalities as well. The FOI and IBA Act have been in preparation for over 6 years! They are given 6 months and they capitulate