The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat has expressed deep concern at the Zambian Government attempt to impose statutory regulation on the media and has called on the Zambian media to unite in rejecting the move.
In a statement released today, MISA Regional Director Kaitira Kandjii said government’s insistence on a statutory media self-regulation mechanism is inappropriate, unnecessary,and aimed at nothing but controlling the media.
He said the move by government is in bad faith and a strategy to curtail media independence and freedom in Zambia.
Mr Kandjii said it unacceptable and gravely worrying that Government should seek to impose its will and overturn the Fringilla consensus on what self-regulation system suits the media.
He noted that the Zambian media have made credible efforts to develop a mechanism to regulate themselves under difficult circumstances, characterized by unending threats.
He added that Government has a duty to support, and not impose and jeopardize the process of self-regulation.
Mr Kandjii further stated that voluntary, non-statutory media councils are the recommended form of media regulation under international law, including article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
He said MISA finds it disturbing that Government keeps changing its positions, having earlier supported the efforts of the Media Liaison Committee, describing the U-turn as unfortunate and one that raises suspicion.
Mr Kandjii noted that MISA is left to wonder what the true intentions of Government have been all along.
He further added that the Kenyan mode of statutory self regulation which Government favors is not an option for Zambia, observing that a statutory regulatory mechanism in whatever form shape, will undermine Article 20 of the Zambian constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, including media freedom.
He has since called on the Zambian Government to urgently review its stance on statutory regulation, and end its circus.
[ QFM ]
Well said. There is no place for DICTATORSHIP in this day and age. Rupia has failed lamentably to uphold the constitution of Zambia and we shall not allow him to enslave the Zambian people through his mediocrity.:)>-
Shikapwasha and whoever is involved should be stopped because as Zambians we will have no where to express ourselves. Just look at ZNBC, Times of Zambia and Daily Mail. They are pathetic.:-?
Theday we see the last of Rupiah, we’ll hold a party in DC. All, except Ben, will be invited. This is Chiluba at his best.
The big question is, WHY HAS MMD FAILED TO IMPLEMENT THE DECENTRALISATION POLICY?
Those in MMD know their fear is that Councils will perform better, especially the City& Municipal Councils which are under the opposition, and that would be a threat to the survival of MMD. This is the perception of those in MMD, its sad to have such shallow minded leaders that can hold back the development of the nation for their own benefit at the expense of the masses.
Finally, are MMD controlled Councils doing better than those under opposition?
Can MMD tell us why Councils they control e.g. Kaoma in W. Province, Milenge in Luapula &Isoka have had misappropriation cases (not misapplication) What of AG reports on Central Govt?
Minister of MLGH, who’s MMD, approves all budgets for Councils.
A typical issue of the pot calling the kettle black. Typical of these MISA guys, they most probably did not even read what ZAMEC is all about, and they have not bothered to get the other side of the story in order to give a balanced opinion. I have followed this matter from inception and without taking sides, I think that the bottom line on any self regulation must be compulsory membership of ZAMEC as a starting point, obligations of members to respect the decisions of their own organisations, as well as punitive measures for repeat or gross offences. Much like in the LAZ, EIZ? where erring members can even be banned from practice, what are these guys afraid off?
FACT: The real problem is too many Zambian journalists have been bought by the system.
#5, lawyers have to pass the bar exams. Journalists – even in America – don’t need to necessarily attend a journalism class. In the USA, journalists come from all fields in the economy. Do they belong to any professional body like LAZ? NO! I see your point, but it won’t work. The government pays journalists to support and follow the party line.
#5 Katie, Although you express an opinion which you’re entitled to, as a qualified & working journalist I beg to differ. You can’t compare the two professions for they are different & serve totally different interests. What U fail to see is that this law is not aimed at regulating the media as Shikapwasha is making us believe. This law is targeted squarely at private media that report things & let people of Zambia know the ills they are doing. The GRZ already controls ZNBC, ZANA, ZIS, ZANIS, Zambia Daily Mail & Times of Zambia which are mainly used as GRZ propaganda mouth piece. So U shouldn’t be cheated that this self regulation they are advocating will better or change the media landscape in Zambia. It will stiffle media freedoms & cripple the Fouth Estate. Where has the same worked?
Zambian journalists that have been bought by the MMd include most of those you know, mainly from ZNBC, The Times and The Daily. Some of them took six years to obtain 3-year dipolmas from Evelyn Hone College because they persistently failed the exams. One of the ways forward is to give a rebirth to ZNBC and let it run under an “independent” charter, like the BBC, with public funding. As for The Times and The Daily, they should be sold immediately; like ZNBC, they’re breeding ground for bootlickers who are later awarded Foreign Service appointments, from where they continue to report directly to the strongman back at Plot 1, and not to the Head of Mission.
#5 Katie, listen to the voice of knowledge at # 8.
#8, First and foremost, you must declare interest that you are a journalist from the private media, maybe even a particular private media, I leave it to you.
Secondly, it is good that you admit and recognise that yours is a profession like lawyers, engineers, doctors, pharmacists etc. The only differences between the professions is the discipline. However, if you say (as #7 suggests too) that journalism is not a profession because you do not write exams, then I will point you to the profession of music, art, etc.
Thirdly, I am giving my personal and independent opinion, not Ronnie’s, so the question of being cheated does not arise.
Fourthly, every law that you can think of came about because some people abuse their freedoms and inringe on other people’s.
#8, First and foremost, you must declare interest that you are a journalist from the private media, maybe even a particular private media, I leave it to you.
Secondly, it is good that you admit and recognise that yours is a profession like lawyers, engineers, doctors, pharmacists etc. The only differences between the professions is the discipline. However, if you say (as #7 suggests too) that journalism is not a profession because you do not write exams, then I will point you to the profession of music, art, etc.
Thirdly, I am giving my personal and independent opinion, not Ronnie’s, so the question of being cheated does not arise.
Fourthly, every law that you can think of came about because some people abuse their freedoms and infringe on other people’s.
Finally, I want to conclude that this was long coming and you will not stop it whether under this government or the next, whether under Sata or HH if ever they come to power, and you saw the almost unanimous view in parliament last year. Come it will unless you guys learn to act like responsible citizens. #8, 9, & 10, if you had passed your comments a few years ago, I would have given my life for that press freedom but during the past few years you have lost me (and I know many others); today I would instead give my life for media self-regulation, true self regulation. I hope that you have heard my message loud and clear, and that you are the cause of my new radical opinion.
This n.o.n.s.e.n.s.e. of trying to treat journalism as a special group of people above laws cannot wash. If society gave that special status to you guys, then it must do the same to murderers, after all they are also a special group of misfits in society.
I love the fact that we have article 20 in our constitution. Mr. Kanjii if only you knew how many Zambians or Africans even know that the constitution is not only civics or social studies class. Politicians in the government( both opposition and MMD) get away with thievery because people do not know how many tomes our governing document has been trampled upon. May the Lord Jesus save us.