Thursday, March 28, 2024

Media propaganda machinery running out of fuel

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Mongu residents gather at Limilunga to witness the arrival of the Nalikwanda during the Kuomboka ceremony.

By Dr Robert Mtonga

IT is amazing that a profession such as journalism that hitherto was next to nobility has ‘gone to the dog.’ Political activists posing as champions of human, civil and political rights in media circles seem to have gone over the line.

Many in the fractured Press are nothing more than propaganda wings of their sponsors. These colleagues have gathered around themselves all manner of shadowy characters who they call sources and news makers.

A cursory study of these news makers reveals how these citizens hold one thing in common hatred and opposition, in this case, to a common enemy. The jaundiced Press is sleeping around with strange bedfellows sad to say.

While it is within their rights to take sides and weigh-in on national issues, a line must be drawn between genuine critique and unfeigned hatred. As Election Day crawls in slowly but surely the venom being unleashed is so toxic so much so that it is beginning to verge on the psychiatric.

Yes citizens, including journalists are fully entitled to engage and inform debate on national issues. But should they sell their souls for 30 pieces of silver to achieve this? As politicians of all hues and persuasions are lining up to stake their credentials for all to see, journalists, as eyes and ears of the masses of the Zambian people are expected to reflect this into society.

This is as it should be in plural politics. Politicians should also be given ample room to peddle their wares, using as many ways and means as possible to woo would-be voters.

This year’s tripartite elections have provided that occasion when politicians and their supporters go abroad looking for votes, employing every iota of energy to capture the electors.

The aspiration to unseat the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) from Government is a legitimate and universal human right of every Zambian who has the wherewithal to allure voters.

In winning the hearts and souls of the electorate, rules of procedure are important. An Electoral Code of Conduct is not just an ideal thing; it is a vital referee in civilised politics.

When one therefore sees political opponents getting at each other’s necks outside the rules of the game, one is left to wonder as to the utility of such a document or indeed the civility of men so engaged in the game of politics.

Wrestling power from incumbency must not be a matter of life and death. Politicians must be encouraged to use every legitimate means at their disposal to win office and serve the Zambian people.

It is worrying therefore when one reads, sees and hears of political groupings using underhand methods to remove the ruling MMD from power. Alas, it has now become fashionable to create “new truths” in order to dress political rivals in ill-fitting fatigues.

This is meant to put those opponents in negative light in the eyes of voters and ostensibly portray the purveyors of such falsehoods in good standing with the same. What is more, the creators of such lies go the whole hog to personalise the attacks in a way that is un-christian, unfair and friendish.

It can be said, without blinking, that one favourite “punch-bag” is the MMD and President Banda. While it is not wrong to trade political punches, it is certainly not right to use naked lies to do so.

It is increasingly becoming crystal clear that President Banda’s political foes are becoming more and more desperate in fabricating half-truths, innuendos and damn lies in a bid to parry the punches RB is throwing at them.

[pullquote]Many citizens are appreciative of the work RB has done in a short time in power. Even if the MMD loses this year’s tripartite elections, the new hospitals, clinics, roads, schools will remain as standing monuments of RB’s tour of duty.[/pullquote]

Day in and day out, the rumour mills are churning out falsehoods at break-neck speed in an attempt to paint the MMD and RB black without shame and without humanity.

What is more, the charges behind the smear campaign are panting with seething rage when they discover that Zambian after Zambian has now started seeing through the woolly hoodwink of the products of their fertile imaginations.

The propaganda machinery led by some celebrated tabloids is outdoing itself in manufacturing lies with every breath it takes, believing albeit naively that the general public out there will buy hook, liner and sinker these peddled stories.

Just take the recent happenings in Mongu before, during and after the Kuomboko ceremony of the Lozi people of Western Province. This particular tabloid had painted a picture that mayhem would characterise the visit of His Honour the Vice-President George Kunda to Mongu to grace the Kuomboka ceremony.

The Zambians were subjected to a diet of unfounded statements that Western Province was an MMD no-go area. It was claimed that the Western Province had turned their allegiance to the Patriotic Front (PF).

Furthermore, the tabloid had stated that people in the province were in mourning. The jaundiced publication splashed pictures of injured persons on their front page footage to create disaffection in the minds of the westerners.

This was a veiled bid to make the westerners rise against the ruling MMD. The truth of the matter however is that people in the province and visitors from yonder shore turned up in large numbers to the shame and dishonour of the owners and originators of these lies.

When the bluff was exposed by the naked light of truth, the same tabloid fabricated yet another story that the police service had cancelled a permit to allow worshippers of a certain denomination celebrate Palm Sunday, quoting an unknown, even perhaps hired source.

When Bishop Paul Duffy of the Mongu Diocese refuted the claims, thus uncovering, the ignoble owners of this propaganda, they were left licking their wounds in ashes of self- defeat. It is common knowledge that the missile-launchers have nothing to offer.

All they do is align themselves to all and sundry that is opposed to RB. The only thing they share with RB’s opponents is personal hatred for RB. They rarely discuss issues of substance.

[pullquote]When the bluff was exposed by the naked light of truth, the same tabloid fabricated yet another story that the police service had cancelled a permit to allow worshippers of a certain denomination celebrate Palm Sunday, quoting an unknown, even perhaps hired source.[/pullquote]

The Zambians fortunately are coming round to the light of day.

Many read some of tabloids with pinched noses. Is it any wonder that bundles and bundles of these publications are returned at the end of each day to the publishers. The MMD has one advantage over their opponents and lap dogs.

It has a record of developmental projects that even they very hard-nosed critiques cannot ignore. Try though the propagandist would to change their lenses, the truth speaks back with the real picture.

Many citizens are appreciative of the work RB has done in a short time in power. Even if the MMD loses this year’s tripartite elections, the new hospitals, clinics, roads, schools will remain as standing monuments of RB’s tour of duty.

The best honour a self-respecting politician would do to his or her perceived enemy would be to acknowledge the good that is obvious and cry foul over the neglected duties and responsibilities.

Trying to falsify the obvious is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. Truth is a liberator. When potential voters see a truth-telling politician, they are more likely to heed his or her message unlike when such a one is hell-bent on fabricating lies.

The Zambian culture is a noble heritage of civility, humanity and all that tends to the promotion of co-existence, self-worth and bridge building. Anything less is not only alien, but a departure from this tenet.

May a day come when dogs will walk out of the profession and professionalism take up her seat once again. May journalists and news makers remember their own humanity and forget the rest.

The hour has come for the redemption of the profession from imposters and hired writers.

115 COMMENTS

  1. Interesting article. The only comment one can make is the Bemba saying that, “KOLWE ASEKA ICHIPATO CHA MU BIYE”. Dr Mtonga seems oblivious of his own leanings and bias. Objectivity should mark an article from one condemning others on issues of objectivity. To me this was an MMD Party Political broadcast. 

  2. ITS BEEN NICE KNOWING YOU L.T BUT YOU ARE THE LEADER OF MMD PROPAGANDA NEWS AND I MUST NOW SAY GOODBYE TO YOU IN FAIRNESS OF THIS STORY

  3. Article is good but biased. Watch the news on ZNBC TV. Its full of rubbish propaganda. Chimba Chanda III has already committed professional suicide. The people have already decided. Why is Mansa on Fire and the authorities do not want to admit the truth. It has started in Mansa it spread to the other towns if you are not careful. We are back in 1991 days with the only difference of availibility of sugar, mealie meal, soap cooking Oil and salt in the shops because we do not have cash to buy the items.
    Wina azalila soon.

  4. i will never comment on lusaka times again, i do not like your news which is pro mmd. my computer will never open this propaganda site again. BYE

  5. Nice objective analysis, only die hard cadres of some political parties cannot see sense in the article. Any person is considered a bad egg until he crosses over to their camp, were they start groryfying him. I remember when Mpombo fell in a swimming pool in Livingstone when he came face to face with a monkey a lot of nasty things were written about him because by then he was Defence Minister, since his departure to the opposition he has became a star in the Post even his language has become tailor perfect. Please let us be objective in looking at national issues as we elect our national leaders to take us another step further.

  6. Foolish article, LT kindly remove our barotse pic from your dirty MMD propaganda..Mtonga is just a baseless MMD cadre..yes for sure we are done with RB regime….

  7. The article is full of anecdotes, and I can safely say its such a shame that a “Dr” can base their whole arguments on half truths. Deliberately attacking a privately owned tabloid like the Post would not help. The publicly funded newspapers are even worse. That said, the work Rupiah your bululu has done has always been poorly planned, and will cost the tax paper 10times the normal costs; with contractors being used as the conduit for campaign money. No amout of lying will stop the movement for change. Kaaya, I doubt your level of analysis, and feel there coul dbe credibility issues with teh awarding body of your qualifications. The educated, have let this country down!!

  8. This article started quite well then abruptly, instead of analysing all media, it ends up as a critique on only one paper – a tabloid. Imwe ba Mtonga, muli ba Doctor ba bwanji?

  9. No wonder Rupiah does wrong things. This Dr Mtonga is his political consultant,and the chap has sold his soul to Rupiah’s propaganda. How did he acquire the Philosophy of Doctorate (PhD) I wonder. No doubt, he has a PhD in bootlicking. How could a Dr fail to see how unprofession journalists from ZNBC,Daily Mail and Time of Zambia are? This Mtonga boy is talking about lies, and it’s barely a day after Zambia’s icon of corruption and lies Rupiah Banda was proved to be professional liar by The Post. The truth pains and no wonder this Mtonga brat hates The Post.

  10. Good afternoon

    Well written article. Dr. Mtonga exposes a number of truths about politics and the media in Zambia.

    Quote: “…it is common knowledge that the missile-launchers have nothing to offer. All they do is align themselves to all and sundry that is opposed to RB. The only thing they share with RB’s opponents is personal hatred for RB. They rarely discuss issues of substance.”

    The trend above can also be observed in most political comments on LT. We may not all share the same political views or speak the same language, but we can at least acknowledge the good that is obvious and criticise the neglected duties of ALL our leaders. The tools of manipulation may be in the hands of the Media to perpetuate lies in favour of their sponsors but in the end the truth will be seen.

  11. Extremely pro MMD. Fake and stupidy analysis. The article is very biased. How about the Chanda Chimba Shiit on ZNBC. Why not mention it. . 

  12. This chap calling himself a Dr Mtonga is also a liar. He is lying that people don’t buy The Post Newspapers and that big bandles are returned to the offices,The Post is the most selling news paper in Zambia and most people dont like the government tabloids. It is the Daily Mail and Times of Zambia which dont sell and are returned to their source of propaganda in large bandles.
    During eletion times,Post News papers finish as early as 8hours,so the brat is a liar. The boy also talked about dirty campaigns,Sata has written Rupiah and Kunda over their bad language several times,so who is this Mtonga chap trying to mislead?

  13. The title of “Dr” has also gone to the dogs! In taking on the post for their alleged lack of professionalism, the “Dr” has conveniently chosen to ignore how the public media covers RB’s perceived enemies. What do you call what Chanda Chiimba does on ZNBC? So this “Dr” is nothing more than brainless tribal cadre trying to prop up his tribesman. He is even worse than the people he accuses of preaching hatred.

  14. The article is great and unfortunately the same things he is criticizes the POST Newspaper  about are the same things government papers are doing. 

    While I acknowledge some of the facts he has raised about the POST’s comments on Palm Sunday in Mongu, I think this Dr Mtonga chap a medical Doctor at UTH, should have looked at both sides of the media for his great revelations to have gained some credibility. It is always important to look at both sides of the issue. 

  15. The so called Dr Mtonga also talked about news makers. Rupiah’s tabloids uses disgratled destitutes of the likes of Chifwekelo,Chifire,Chilonde and the so called bishop Ndlovu as news makers,which mad person can take these brats seriously?
    It’s understood,like everyone in MMD,this Dr Mtonga boy is trying to protect his job. He cant see things beyond his tummy. Enjoy your sleepless nights over The Post and PF Dr Mtonga.

  16. This is a good article. The post is really not trusted now as many even those who are close to the paper, including workers accept that they are biased because Mmembe only wants to write what pleases him. Anyway that is Mmembe’s opinion and we cannot be subject to his views. Last time when there was a misunderstanding at Radio Liseli over a priest who was just playing Music in Bemba and Nyanja which many could not understand in the area, he blew, this same post newspaper blew it so high that nearly everyone in Zambia condemned us in all languages. Now that the Post and it’s sponsored party want our votes they are pleading for us to join PF in the name of change to which we have categorically rejected their leader for his past, and for calling us tribalists.

  17. @ 18 nkonkamalimba wansekeshya. Aba ba doc chipuba, very bias, one of our very own sebana wikute. What about the mishaps like the mobile clinics, Zambtel, the travelling expenses, corruption going on under his nose. the trillions lost in gvt grafts, haphazard projects which are unbudgeted for, the billions and cars given to chiefs and opposition MPs to support MMD rubbish, police shootings, etc etc, he doesnt mention all these. What this gvt is doing are the basic functions of a gvt and there should be nothing to write home about iwe chi doc chisushi chobe. Kabepe ko aba ku Chipata kapuli kobe.

  18. This is a well written article.Very good Dr.Mtonga.Too bad bloggers are so hell bent on trashing MMD they fail to acknowledge the truths you have raised.Indeed even if RB loses this year the schools,hospitals and roads built will be there for all Zambians to benefit from for years to come.Very good analysis.May we have more objective Zambians

    • HAS RB BUILD ANY SCHOOLS MORE ESPECIALLY I WESTERN PROVINCE.ZAMBIANS LEARN TO TELL THE TRUTH PANTU MU BWATABWAT FYE.

  19. Mmembe thinks him and PF can use us by taking advantage of the confusion of 14 january to plead for our votes, it will never work as we know that their leader Sata is the worste as he recomended to his Boss Chiluba in their regime to stripe off the powers of the Litunga, so if it was him we were going to be wiped out for protesting. We know what Sata is capable of doing with his political experience which has brought more harm than good to Zambia. The man is full of divisions and can divide Zambia, all those who do not believe in him will be wiped out, he did it under Chiluba where all those who were against the third term were beaten and barred from attending the convertion in Kabwe.

  20. Kalaluka it all seems you a mentally disillusioned person. Its not a secret that you hate Sata and the Post Newspaper. How about the main state vuvuzela culprits such as the Daily Mail, times and ZNBC? in all fairness do you think these media houses are serving the interests of the Zambian people or a clique? Lets be objective in our analyses.  Viwamina galu ka? 

  21. It all seems the MMD clique fears criticism. Each time people criticize all the dogs in the cage start barking so loud and when its the other way round its time to wag tails. Ishhhhh this country kamo heee nisebana wikute.

  22. Good article and goodbye John Phiri! The public newspapers are subtle in the way they try to influence our opinions and that is bad. The Post blatantly trys to influence our opinions and that is much worse than the public media. When I read and compare the two, the public media seems more credible.

  23. The preamble of the article was well constructed but midway,the article lost it’s direction.It is not a well balanced article as it has a lot of heresy,like christians would say.Heresy is the extension of truth.Truth,once it is exagerated,no longer becomes truth but a lie.Much as people might be saying MMD has done this and that,but when time comes to pack,they just have to do that without lamentation.Dr Mtonga should not just support RB based on tribe.We are also easterners who feel our own has failed us and is not a proper example of what good leadership is supposed to be.RB is a disgrace to proper governance.He has emblaced,without any iota of shame,climinals who raped our nation of it’s resources.He is an arrogant leader who does not listen to pieces of advice.

  24. Even if it means removing Banda’s MMD we cannot replace it with a branch of MMD under PF as this would not mean change at all. It would be the same as transfering a crocodile from Lake lake Mweru to lake Tanganyika and expecting it to cahnge from crocodile to fish, which will be imposible, it will still remain the same(crocodile). So the wagon of cahnge is not in PF the ways the post tries to put it but in UPND of HH who us westerners believe he can bring the real change and development like we saw in Mwanawasa led GRZ. With Sata, his past is still stick in our heads. The fight against corruption has failed as we feel voting in the same people means giving them chance to protect each other, as we know that Sata was part of the most corrupt administration, hence likely to protect them.

  25. The best would be for the other side to be given a chance on LT to write about Daily, Times, Zanis and ZNBC – and indeed LT itself! As for this article, it is very true as far as the Post goes. I still fail to understand why Sata(n) is a saint today – not me but the Post….

  26. Mtonga , you could have balanced the article by talking about ZNBC, Times etc. However,Your analsis of the POST is 100% true. They used to be a respectable newspaper until, now, i think an article on what is motivating the POST to loose their dignity so fast would be very helpful.

  27. #5 John Phiri, I hope you stick with your decision, let me not see you again on this site. Do not behave like your boss Sata who changes position ukwalola umwela style. Bye, good riddance!

    • John Phiri and his clique saying bye are jst like their leader sata who changes postions like a chameleon.they wil not leave ths blog but wil jst change their names.

  28. Good article doc.May those critiquing this article write an article giving the opposing views.It seems people in the opposition can’t write.All they do is ‘lumpenize'( sorry if you were at UNZA you would understand this term) .Lets debate issues in a civilised manner.

  29. Quote: “The hour has come for the redemption of the profession from imposters and hired writers”. How could you degrade yourself Ba DR.DR.Mtonga. Yes you are one of the hired writers, because you are good at writing essays.
    Number of readers and comments has dropped significantly at LT, because of LT supporting MMD and hiring cheap journalist like you The Greatest Mtonga. I wonder who on earth can support LT next year.

  30. Mr Kalaluka,do not trust HH and all these fake politicians.The only person who will bring change to this nation is your sons,daughters and grand children.Neither HH nor Sata will bring any change to this dead nation.The reason being that all of them are socked in blood of corruption.The former was given an exercise of selling companies on behalf of the country but he messed it up.Moreover,he has been labelled as a tribalist who ascended to power in a crookery way.The later is also a person who can bring chaos in the nation because of his diabolical personality.I feel our children are seeing mistakes that we are making and they the ones who will bring sanity in our nation.In generation,we have failed to provide leadership in formulation of a constitution.We should not trust current leaders!

  31. The Dr. title has real gone to Dogs like this nincompoop Mtonga…..Politicks of the Belly ..dam !!! how much has MMD paid for you to start attacking the post newspaper, while your stupid ZNBC and newspapers kept quite on the barotse injustice, its only the post who have come on board to rescue and expose your empty and rubbish regime. To hell with you Doc and your stupid funders, we don give a hell about RB regime !!!!. why not condemning your useless chanda chimba on you useless and corrupt ZNBC…Malanga a mina bati !!!!!

  32. Mukwai ni sebana wikute.
    All we need is change but not from one corrupt person to the the other dribbler
    Change we need 

  33. “All they do is align themselves to all and sundry that is opposed to RB. The only thing they share with RB’s opponents is personal hatred for RB. They rarely discuss issues of substance”.

    Very nice article. And in conclusion

    “Trying to falsify the obvious is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. Truth is a liberator. When potential voters see a truth-telling politician, they are more likely to heed his or her message unlike when such a one is hell-bent on fabricating lies.”

  34. #28: Mr Kalaluka, we all know that HH could have been the best candidate, but in everything we do in life, there is always timing, and tactics. He had a great advisor in Prof. Chirwa, who analysed the situation to the extent of guiding the UPND into power; soon or later, the young men (HH and Chirwa) would have worked hard to show the younger generation of how leadership is to be done. So your HH failed lamentably on “timing”, and “tactics”. Obviously you guys are free to vote against PF, we accept that, yet you have missed a chance to break into PF stronghold through a PACT. Where is Kalusa the then UPND spokes person? If HH could not instill discipline in Kalusa, could he lead a country? Your guess is as good as mine. Don’t Kubeba!!

  35. Good article Dr. Last night around 19:00 hrs I found the post being sold at shoprite. I have just arrived from town and the post is still in big heaps at society house and Millennium Bus stop. Needless to say I know longer buy it. Fair to say i cannot support a paper that preaches so much hatred of one person who happens to be our leader at the moment. Mmembe is an anarchist. The Post has told us before that Sata is not the change we seek in our politics. To believe anything else is just pure lunacy which is the state in which Mmembe and his journalists are today. Has someone already mentioned that we will not miss John Phiri. Good riddance. Please don’t even try to come back with a different name. You are always pathetic. And that is an understatement.

    • YOU ARE NOT NDATE SICABA WHY HIDE OYUR IDENTITY.
      POST IS THE MOST READ PAPER.BY
      THE WAY IS RB THE ONLY NEWS WHICH CAN BE REPORTED ON ZNBC.EACH TIME YOU WANT TO TURN ON IT IS RB RB WHY.WE ARE FED UP OF HIS FACE KUYA BEBELE RB AND YOUR COHORTS. YOU HAVE BAD HEARTS WHICH ARE EVIL AND CLLOUS. KK AND MWANAWASA DID NOT GO ON A KILLING SPREE OF INNOCENT LIVES YOU ARE ALL EVIL CHILDREN OF PERDITION.

  36. “Southern province chiefs give HH ultimatum to state his position
    22nd April 2011″

    “It’s like our chiefs have already bargained for the position of Vice president and it seems President Banda has no problems with that, there has been a lot of discussions and it is chance for Hichilema”
    Good luck HH

  37. John phiri and clock has stopped

    Hope you leave the blog for good.some of us we stopped reading the post and public daily tabloids a long time ago.Tghe post is for Sata and they are for RB.Our HH has none.As for DR MTONGA, the article aboyut the post is 100% but you should have analysed the public media also i,e ZNBC,Times,Daily mail etc.Thats exactly how we look at them also.

  38. John Phiri, don’t come back using another name. Bye.
    #40 Chiefs only have one vote each. Let them hammer the fruits, Banda is giving them now and later behave like Judas

  39. Ubupuba bwekabweka. u mmd charps u`re suffering togather with us but i don`t know why u have given it a blind eye to support these *****s.maybe u receive different treatment country wide but wat i know u`re suffering.

  40. The Post has run out of ammo. The amount of development projects going on is overwhelming even for Mr. Sata that he cannot say anything about development but instead slander H.E.R.B. and the MMD. People have got eyes and they are seeing housing projects coming up, commercial projects coming up, MFEZ & Business Parks coming up, Hospitals, Schools, companies opening everywhere.

    It doesn’t matter the amount of propaganda the Post and Mr. Sata spread anymore. People can see the truth and Mr. Chanda Chimba III is also exposing Mr. Sata for who he is. One can easily verify Mr. Chimba III stories in the archives of the Post.

    Doesn’t matter how much propaganda you spread. In the end, the truth always triumphs over lies and misinformation which PF spreads.

    • Lets be fair . lets not just follow the wind. Some of us we are even stoped to hear ZNBC news because it is always RB if they talk about opposition it is always negative. If they are talking against the MMD even this small and unregistered organisation ZNBC will cover their press conference. RB started his campaign long time but to other they say do not play campaign sons. where is fairness. ZNBC is more bias than POST it is only that MMD is ruling

  41. Dr Robert Mtonga,
    Well written article unfortunately, he sounds like the hired gun of the MMD. his comments are no different from those of Lifwekelo and Chifire. If the Dr is pro MMD and he enjoys police killing innocent people then he has got it all wrong. 

  42. This Dr. Mtonga sure, how can you analyse and criticise Journalists from one single Media House (Post Zambia) and end there? I urge him to write Articles also about Journalists from ZNBC, Daily Mail, Times of Zambia, etc. I thought someone who has academic level of a Doctorate should be more objective than a party cadre. Oh anyway there are many ways, especially in Zambia, of “earning” a Doctorate: Dr. Chiluba, Dr. Nevers, Dr. Saviour Chishimba, Dr…… All from either Nigeria or Malawi. Is this Mtonga from Nigeria or Malawi??

  43. Ba Mtonga I thought you were going to give us a balanced view on both sides of how media institutions that have taken sides must behave.
    Alas you spoiled your seemingly good article by aligning and indentifying yourself with the ruling MMD. While that is your democratic right, you then have no right to feed the readership with your MMD crap.

  44. Opposition Patriotic Front Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament Joseph Zulu has urged Zambians not to vote for PF leader Michael Sata in this year’s elections.

    Mr Zulu says Mr Sata cannot be trusted with national leadership because of his inconsistency on national issues.

    He says the PF leader is also unreliable and disrespectful.

    The Member of Parliament has vowed that he will work flat out to ensure that he de-campaigns Mr Sata in his presidential bid.

    Mr Zulu has also endorsed President Banda’s candidature for the 2011 elections.

    He was speaking at a public rally addressed by Vice president George Kunda in Kabushi constituency in Ndola this week.

    Mr. Zulu also said councils on the Copperbelt have collapsed because of poor leadership by PF councillors.

  45. SOME church mother bodies and civil society organisations have condemned the hate articles the Post newspaper has continued to publish against the Government and the people of Western Province, saying they could divide the nation and cause civil strife if left unchecked.¨The Christian Coalition, Bishops Council of Zambia and Forum for Leadership Search (FLS) condemned the kind of journalism the Post was practicing describing it as retrogressive and antagonistic.¨Christian Coalition spokesperson John Mwendapole said the Post was an alarmist and was perpetuating a campaign of hatred.¨Mr Mwendapole said the Post had drifted away from the principles of journalism and was now publishing messages of hatred which were likely to divide the nation if left unchecked.

  46. It is surprising that the Post is always negative about Government and they do not aim at building the nation but destroying it. This is not journalism. They have stopped being objective as they used to be, he said.
    Bishops Council of Zambia spokesperson Gibson Nyirenda described the style of reporting by the Post as pathetic. Reverend Nyirenda said the Church would not tolerate such kind of reporting as it was aimed at causing divisions in Zambia.

  47. Mtonga, you are such a thicko! Poverty has reduced you from being a professional to a cadre, which is quite absurd.

  48. One sided critique also. He started very well and I was encouraged to read on but in the end he is an MMD in disguise. Mtonga learn to be critical. Have you ever listened to the matuvi of Chanda Chimba the III? If you have not then I encourage you to do so. And I am sure you would feel that you are not being honest with yourself. Lets be serious bane!

  49. It is because such crap that the media will never be appreciated. I do not think a man with a PhD should reduce himself to such low levels. Maybe we should have a look at ur dissertation to ascertain its validity coz u are as biased as the govt run tabloids. U can’t even mention the crap they write but are bent on attacking the post solely. Ribbish article….

  50. Nine Chale,

    Just by reading your reaction I can surmise that you don’t live in Zambia. Dr. Mtonga, a medical doctor, is a regular correspondent to the Times of Zambia one of the most virulently anti- opposition papers and the source of the article in Lusaka Times. For your own information, you can’t have anything published in the Times of Zambia if you are even remotely critical of the MMD government.

  51. Nine Chale,

    The truth is that Dr. Mtonga is a well known MMD cadre. Dr. Mtonga doesn’t say anything critical about the public media like ZNBC, but Ba Chale if you are here in Zambia you would have a nervous breakdown if you only tuned to ZNBC TV. More than 90% of the news content on ZNBC TV is all about Rupiah Banda, George Kunda, Ronnie Shikapwasha, Dora Siliya, Edwin Lifwekelo, Gregory Chifire, Thabo Kawana, Kelvin Sampa, Edward Mumbi, and other MMD bootlickers like the infamous Chanda Chimba III. And you are saying this article by Dr. Mtonga is well written, Ba Chale!!

  52. The Article is to the point. The heading should howerver change to ” The Post propaganda machinery running out of fuel. The author should also sign in as “MMD Adviser” or something cloce to that. As for the bloggers, it is important that you learn to define terms. for example, we should know the meaning of DEVELOPMENT so that we analyse whether we are developpin or not. If we put up a million schools, hospitals( both mobile and fixed), we should understand whether we are achieving development goals.

  53. This doc cannot be a PhD holder – no ways! must be some other kind of doctor. Indeed the quality of the Post has fallen embarrassingly low but so have the RB supporter media. In short media in Zambia is quite a let down and for what? simply because of 2 old men. Old men who have gone beyond age of accepting advise from anybody. So what if you want to change from one to the other! It is all mediocre tinkering without going anywhere. Why can’t we set our selves free?

  54. This Doc is insane… THIS IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF MEDIOCRE ANALYSIS…

    The comparison can only be made between UNIP and MMD.

  55. #34 iwe Chikamba, you are really a disgruntled demagogue, spewing hatred and malicious statements. Dead nation? Makandi yobe. You need to get your head out of your butt!

  56. Dr Mtonga hope you are not tonga. I salute you for expressing your opinion. Only courageous men do so. Different view points are welcome. Please note that these columns are not meant to exchange insults. Bembas when are you going to grow? Satan leave the young men out of this you are soon going your age is telling the truth. What kind of nation are you grooming. shame on you

  57. The credibility of this article ended when the auther’s bias became visible. Dr. Mtonga is trying to write against bought journalists, while he is himself exhibiting the fact that he was paid by MMD to write this article. This was a chance to read something promising from this so called doctor but it fell short. LT and MMD we can see through you

  58. #54 MaxMbizo in my sober analysis, yes I found the article to be well articulated. Whether or not Dr. Mtonga is an MMD cadre, I think that’s besides the point. What stands clearly undesputable is his critique of the media’s propaganda antics. The problem of manipulation of readership through the twisting of facts is widespread – not only in Zambia.

    The need for individuals to moderate, reason, and judge the news they get is called for. That’s where I see eye to eye with the author.

  59. Typical African polical commentator. Clearly paid by MMD to masquarade as an unbiased commentor. However, reading between the lines, you soon realised that the article could have been written by George Kunda. What a disgrace.

  60. #61, when you are asked to critique the media, you are supposed to look at the cross-section of the media; not just pick on one paper, The Post, and pretend that the MMD vuvuzela’s are OK. This is why it is pointless for tax payers to continue educating people like Mtonga who have nothing to contribute to the strengthening of our democrating institutions. Without The Post, we would be in total darkness in this country. MMD vuvuzela’s never report negative incidents involving MMD. Mtonga, real or not, is a disgrace!

  61. #34 tell that to PF cadres who cannot read GRZ regulations on selling government owned properties. If you knew the regulation and procedures, you would note that there is no way an individual or a company can sell government property as Zambia privatisation agency is the one responsible for that Job, a company can just value the assets of a government owned company. I am not a pf cadre who no matter your level of education can believe hearsay without any truth, I know your president believes on tanishing people’s images for him to find ridence, but now his lies are catching up with him. HH is the best this time around as we cannot postpone development when we all know that we are in poverty, we need development now for our kids also to benefit, as life is about taking opportunities.

  62. Let us take this opportunity to make use of this young man, this is time for the new generation of substance to take up the challenge of leadership for our country to move forward.

  63. ati ba doctor, shame on you. you are the One misleading ba mudala ba bwezani. talk about cheteni bi cee, daily mail and time. any i cant blame you much kaili twalyumfwa ati nembwa shalikwata ba doctor. cheerz doc

  64. The doctor is vividly insinuating the post is a bunch of people operating an unproffesional tabloid.In truth,there isnt a proffesional tabloid in zambia,none.I believe the Post has more of a right to be biased as they are a private entity only guided by ethics which they are not obliged to follow!And if people dont like it they shouldnt buy!!But the majority still buy the paper partly because mr sata is popular but also it clearly highlights the suffering of Zambians and many other injustices such as corruption,police brutality etc.The public media is protected by the law which stipulates we MUST pay,surely they have to be accomodative of the political inclinations of us all but instead they tell us everything is perfect yet there no jobs,there are no school places for school leavers &…

  65. For real many people have lost confidence in the post, don’t you see the sales have reduced hence they are even advertising, people now just read headlines in corridors, if is propaganda about the people Mmembe hates they do not buy. The post has even stoped listening to views from both sides before publishing any story, which is not good quality journalism. The person Mmembe hates the whole team has to write bad things about that person.

  66. gud work doc.dont mind these gays and aethists that want to criticise every thing about RB.We need to learn to praise when neccessary not evry time one speaks or writes it must be criticism,shame on u

  67. LT do you read comments from your audience? Sometime do a sampling election for and against certain stories then igore airing such. Am one of thebenefially of RB ZCCM housing units but I and my family member will never give RB a vote. Zambia is beyond a house. Let him ring back Zamtell to start with. No need to read this lusaka times

    • #71 JB. Sometimes it is better to keep your ungratefulness to yourself. May be you have grown up never thanking anyone in your whole life. RB will win this year’s election with or without your vote. Period! Zambia is beyond a house but you failed to pay for yours for all these years until RB came to your rescue.

  68. I guess this Dr. Mtonga was not trained or educated to make money becoz if he was, he would not be earning his livelihood through such low cabre gigs (writing such low calibre articles for MMD). Mtonga does not even know how to measure performance or success. Let Mtonga outline what the MMD has done in all the 9 provinces (i.e. building roads, schools, colleges, employment levels, industries, cleanliness etc.) Mtonga says MMD has built roads and hospitals and he does not give examples such infrastructure in each province. Over the years has destroyed all the infrastructure it found. Eg, most of the twonship streets on the copperbelt where tarred, we had good buildings, clean environment but today CB looks like its a war zone. MMD even fails to collect garbage and Mtonga does not see this.

  69. The problem in Zambia is that over the years we have not made the politicians to account for their actions because of the culture of hero worship.Politics has become a career and the road to quick riches and lucrative deals.Why for example blame the MMD for uncollected gabbage when you have district councils with the environmental dept.Do we pay rates to the MMD or the council.The south Africans have been protesting about service delivery in their townships and what have we Zambians been doing?The diamond rich Botswana govt recently built 6 new hospitals and new senior secondary schools.We don’t have diamonds and yet see how many health facilities and schools have been built.Say what you want but lets give credit where it is due. My vote goes to RB Banda.

  70. @54.
    Thanks for pointing out to those that didnt know that this doctor fellow is a regular contributor to the times. Read his analysis of the pf manifesto and it was absolute junk.

    Someone once said that corruption of the best is worst. Dr mtonga illustrates that perfectly.

  71. This article is great and is coming from a true patriot of the land where he was born. For almost a month now the Post has been playing the “Barotse Card” in the most callous fashion and in some cases they have attempted to conjure up images associated with Mongu “riots”. They have attempted to prop up Sata in the province but Lozis know the deeds of Sata.The position taken by the paper’s editorial team to spread misinformation about government policies is really fostering bias in the media. Frankly the irresponsibility and misappropriation of words by the Post is a blemish on their record. How sad and disturbing that a major media outlet misunderstands the press freedom in such black and white terms. Sata’s MPs rejected our dual nationality status two weeks ago.

  72. You fools want The Post to be worshipping Rupiah and MMD just like the govt tabloids and ZNBC? Who complains about your MMD propaganda in Daily Mail and Times of Zambia.
    Go to hell and hang yourselves because The Paper That Digs Deeper is there to stay.
    You are just worried about your jobs which are at stake because of PF and The Post.

  73. This article is too pro MMD to believe there is anything NUETRAL about the author! Therefore, Dr. Mtonga’s views are just as JAUNDINCED as those of the private tabloids and people he is criticizing. To ignore all the propaganda and innuendo emanating from the government controlled “tabloids” and just focus on the private media is, quite frankly, committing the crime of INTELLECTUAL DISHONEST or LAZINESS!!

    If his aim was to strike a balanced critique of our media in Zambia today, he has completely failed with this article. It is nakedly obvious which side of the political spectrum Dr. Mtonga sympathizes with. Which is not a bad thing in itself, but to then turn around and start criticizing the other side over things your own side is blatantly engaged in is pure HYPOCRICY!!!!

  74. This is a very poorly researched and written paper. The so called doctor states, I quote, “It can be said, without blinking, that one favourite “punch-bag” is the MMD and President Banda. While it is not wrong to trade political punches, it is certainly not right to use naked lies to do so”.

    Here he fails to point out what has been said about Banda that he believes is a lie. Ba Mtonga he the process of vilifying The Post (although not explicitly mentioned), he in fact makes case to why we need to have papers like The Post.

    May be we are all mistaken, is he discussing Chanda Chimba III (I don’t know if kulubemba they had 1st, 2nd, 3nd,). Even their chief does not have such. Chitimukulu XIVth. LOL. Kuti waseka ngefiweme.

    Ba Dr, go and write your paper. It is simple, give…

  75. You guys do you want to turn LT to be a small post newspaper? Like the post who have the right to shower praises on sata day in day out. LT at least tries to be objective. Nobody invited you to this blogg.

  76. All you nay sayers, noone wants the Post to be worshipping Rupiah. What we want is for them to just tell the truth as it is. If they are journalists worth their salt they can verify some of the things they write. Veep not welcome in WP, people of WP are in mourning, Police kill two in Mansa, Mazabuka rejects mobile clinics, Petauke chiefs refuse Siliya donation were all pure blatant lies. And for what really? To sell the paper or mislead people? The Post may have deceived people once or twice or many times in the past three years but generally people hate lies. Once people have seen through this malicious slander and hatred of RB’s govt by the Post, the biggest losers will be their gay masters. To be honest they are the biggest enemy of PF in this year’s election. The public media…

  77. The public media should just increase coverage of opposition players. I don’t think they report lies. Hatred begets hatred. It is not a secret that Chanda Chimba III’s Stand Up Zambia programme was born out of nulifying the Post propaganda and image building of Sata which they had destroyed beyond repair themselves. Again noone is saying they have no right to choose who to align with but they can do that by reporting truthfully because they have an obligation to tell the public the truth. There is definately power in the pen(the post), but when all is said & written the tongue(CC III’s Stand up for Zambia) may prove mightier. Let us work, blog, relax, and wait.

  78. #84 Ndate Sicaba, your statement about the Post cannot just go without challenge. I quote “Again noone is saying they have no right to choose who to align with but they can do that by reporting truthfully because they have an obligation to tell the public the truth”.

    Give us only four lies that you think The Post has written about Rupiah Banda, William Banda, Shikapwasha, FTJ or any top official in MMD. Just give us the untruthful reports about one of them. Do not belabor to give about two or three of the above mentioned. Since you have purported that they have to report truthfully. Give us the untruthful reports you have that has come from the Post. You can ask for help from any MMD cadre on this blog to help you if need be.

  79. Which University gave this chap his doctrate? because his analytical skills are a shame. He is a worst trabalist i have a ever heard. Honestly you call ZNBC, Daily Mail and Times Of Zambia objective media? No, No ba Mtonga you are wrong on this one.

  80. When it comes to “sebana wikute” it seems no one is spared not even the the most educated in the land. Am amazed that the author is not even ashamed to reveal his name for such piece of cheap and basic propaganda. He must be blind and deaf to write such rubbish because if he listens and watch what  the public media churns out he would have thought twice before embarrassing himself in this manner. Nangu nimushetology nifi.

  81. Ba Mtonga; a DR. Its shameful no wonder we can’t develop! A pure cadre in the name of a Doctor of what? Pa Zed we have too many scattered brains among our intelligentia! Either iwe Mtonga your were oiled or has been promised a well paying job by your outgoing President RB. Let RB just announce the Election Date so that a new team comes in sooner than end of September,2011. We are tired of you hired analysists.Too many hungry mouths and millions of unemployed youths/school leavers,graduates and you guys think its a joke! The vote count will shock RB more than it did to KK in 1991!

  82. Despite the free Kazungula plots dangled to the Botswana diaspora in exchange for the MMD vote, we still have voices of reason from Bechuanaland. Donchi kebeba!

  83. Zambians don’t be quick to gloryfy Dr Robert Mtonga please,
    HH is pointing and costructivelly pointing the ills of both MMD and PF but the system favoured by Dr Mtonga they don’t cover information equally but the suppress the one on MMD but  AND ONLY highlight the one of HH on sata/pf. This is meant and calculated to show that HH/UPND as opposition are only fighting themselves.
    I CHALLENGE the intellectual Dr Robert Mtonga to prove his genuineness by telling Zambians why HH/UPND’s mammoth KANYAMA RALLY  was not shown in the electronic and print media of GRZ funded by the zambian tax payer. Only HH’s FACE AND CHEST WAS SHOWN for seconds WHEN MMD propaganda puppets are given full view and minutes on air and length space in papers.

  84. SERIOUS POINT OF CORRECTION TO ZAMBIANS.
    THE MOST FEARED 2011PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS NOT BANDA OR SATA. The MOST FEARED ONE IS THE MOST UN-COVERED BOTH IN THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA.AND HE IS THE ONLY TARGET THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC MEDIA HAVE THE HIGHEST INTENSITY AND WIDE HATE,PROPAGANGA AND INSULTS OF NEGATIVE PUBLICITY.
    THE CANDIDATE IS HH BECAUSE HE CARRIES THE TRUE MESSAGE OF REAL CHANGE.
    THAT IS THE LITMUS TEST FOR BEARER OF TRUE MESSAGE -SATAN RAINS HIS WRATH ON YOU.AND THAT IS THE TIME YOU MUST PRESS ON AND CONTINUE CARRYING THE CROSS ,DONT MIND ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND FAMILY GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU TO LEAD HIS FLOCK OUT OF THE WORLD DRIVEN BY HATE ,TRIBALISM.PROPAGANDA,IGNORANCE OF TRUTH AND LACK OF EDUCATION.
    HH YOU ARE THE CHOSEN.MANY ARE CALLED FEW ARE…

  85. Doctor,

    You are calling for impartiality from the Post when you have just exhibited the exact opposite. How about the Chanda Chiimba Programme, is it professional? Is the propaganda in Government owned tabloids professional. Your challenge is ultimately welcome, but it goes beyond the Post.

  86. iWE CHI MTONGA ULI DR WA KWISA.LISTEN THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN OF COURSE ARE MOURNING THEIR OWN. IF YOU COMPARE THE PAST KUOMBOKAS THIS ONE WAS NOT WELL ATTENDED BECAUSE PEOPLE DID NOT WANT THE PRESENCE OF THE POLICE AND ALSO KUNDA HIMSELF AFTER ALL THOSE INSENSITIVE UTTERANCES HE MADE. LISTEN PEOPLE OF WESTERN PROVINCE HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS EVEN IF YOU RIGG YOU KAMUTOGA BOOTLICKER YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WIN BYE

  87. Post editors are perfectly entitled to their opinions, but they do not have any immunity when it comes to publishing falsehoods. Before the elections of 1991 they published a story that KK had stolen US$4 Billion from the state treasury, when Zambia’s entire GDP was less than that figure at the time. The Post, which hypes itself as being “the Zambia’s leading provider of news” has been caught flat footed with its photographic bias, misrepresenting photographs of Mongu riots. How can a media outlet that doctors images by cropping vital elements be independent? Please can they show full, uncropped images on mongu riots including those showing people destroying public property? The newspaper’s tendency to distort the facts is dangerously betraying readers who who expect accurate accounts.

  88. I read LT postings just to have an idea of what is going on what the propagandas it is serving in the interest of MMD. LT is not different from Daily Mail or Times of Zambia or ZNBC. It has no capacity of standing on its own unlike post newspaper. It has to preach for MMD if it is to survive. No wonder you will see that its propagandas its spearhead mostly differ with the majority of Zambians. You can prove me from the comments people post.

  89. All the media in Zambia – junk !!!! You are deceiving the masses.
    Please for once this year, eradicate your decaying moral fibers, I believe you can still be redeemed.
    Reporters/editors: I tell you how to be truthful: before you send a report for printing, look yourself in the mirror- ask yourself a question, am I telling the truth? If there is any elements of morality in you, your response will be correct. If not, be reminded that hell fire is waiting for all liars.
    It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error.— Adrian Rodgers

  90. The PF cadres cannot tolerate divergent views but bury their heads in the sand. For youths who browse this website, the truth is: The Post has lost tenets of journalism by failing to reflect objectivity. Students of political science can cite articles in the Post at their own peril. No intellectual or scholar worth his/her salt would quote articles tainted with lies. 99.9% of the Post’s lead articles are cast to discredit RB and worship Sata. Many professionals & doctors were brutalized when Sata was in Chiluba’s Govt. Sata created PF as a family business. Hence the choice of his son for Lusaka-Central constituency. Yet The Post is tongue-tied. Sata is a Tanzanian LEECH or TICK thriving on perceived Bemba supremacy. Yet the true Bembas are a fine lot of non-tribal nationalists at heart.

  91. MINER- You are a dude. If you dont know what ignited the mansa riot I think you better shut your mouth. Am a mansa resident and I saw what happened. Dont wish for evil acts. It was really bad.

  92. All Journalists of 20th Century are useless. Look at BBC, CNN, PRESS TV reporters the best. Many people have died of gangrene and sepsis at various health facilities in zambia. So what is so special with that Lozi old guy? SATA will never win this year’s election and the POST will star grooming MIYANDA.

  93. I wish it was a possible thing to be 100% objective and impartial. All media outlets are baised and inclined to one ideology or so. Just like the way Lusaka Times have proved to be very biased to RB and the MMD. How much space have they given to the opposition views? Very negligible The Post may be blamed of favoring one side but the truth is despite their lapses, the Post has been acting as the only watch dog for the gvt and contributed so much to teh democratisation of our nation. To teh Lusaka Times, I expect you to be above board and try be to as broad as possible if you are to win the respect of Zambians in general and bloggers in particular. It would not be a pleasant thing to see bloggers abandoning your site because you do not cater for the aspirations of all.

  94. Think for a moment. If Sata became President, what do you think will become of the public media? do you think it will change? I personally don’t think so, becoz the public media will now start writing pleasantries about Sata. That is how the system works. State media will become Sata’s tool for his propaganda also, no doubt about that. remember that he was in the system before as MMD secretary and minister without portfolio, so he knows the system well. Once he becomes president, public media will give him allegiance and the Post will now start hitting him left right and centre, why, becoz thats the way the system works, if we remember very well.

  95. I spent four years at the University of Zambia and I never met a single Doctor who was partisan. We admired our lecturers for their bravery in giving us objective opinions regradless of whether they risked being arrested by govt but this Dr Robert Mtonga did he get his PHD from that place of courage called UNZA? Where is his Tuchawattiude coming from? Is it in-born?

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