Some members of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter have demanded for immediate disciplinary action against executive director Sipho Kapumba following the fraudulent awarding of Get Involved Zambia Executive Director Frank Bwalya during the World Press Freedom Day commemoration.
The members, who spoke through long-serving member Emmanuel Mwamba, said the award was just among the many wrong decisions that were being made by the Executive Director.
He said the MISA board should act immediately in the interest of the members who were not involved in the selection of Fr Bwalya to receive the award.
Mr. Mwamba said the members were ready to challenge the board should it ignore their demands to discipline Mr. Kapumba.
He said the award was meant to frustrate the Government during the WPFD celebrations ceremony instead of promoting unity and celebrating in harmony.
He also cited Mr Kapumba’s recent decision to award a contract for presenting of the “Face-the-media” programme on Radio Phoenix without following tender procedure as one of the matters that should be addressed.
Mr. Mwamba said the members were disappointed that Mr. Kapumba single-sourced a person instead of allowing the members and others to bid for the job.
He said MISA faced audit queries last year because of a K75-million deal that led to the removal of the Henry Kabwe-led executive committee from office but that malpractices had continued.
Mr. Mwamba said the members were not happy and had started consultations over the next course of action should the board fail to fire Mr Kapumba.
MISA Zambia on Monday awarded Fr Bwalya with the Freedom of Expression award that did not get the approval of the World Press Freedom Day national organising committee and the criterion was decided by Mission Press director Fr Miha Drevensek.
The trophy was given by Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha without a warning.
Fr Bwalya walked to the podium to receive the award with a red card, a symbol that he uses to fight the Government through his campaign for a change of government.
But Mr Mwamba said there should be decency in the conduct of public affairs and that MISA Zambia was a professional institution that should not be used to settle political scores against perceived enemies.
Gen Shikapwasha said on Wednesday that he decided to go ahead and present the award to avoid disrupting the spirit of the celebrations but objected to the award being given to Fr Bwalya who he said was a politician working closely with the Patriotic Front (PF) and not a media practitioner
When contacted, MISA Zambia chairperson Daniel Sikazwe said he would not react to the matter but urged the members to raise the issue officially with the board of directors while Mr. Kapumba declined to comment.
[ Times of Zambia ]
the award was already given, the damage was already done, even if its withdrawn now Fr Bwalya already plashed the red card at Ronnie, lol, but its a shame really, I wonder why the award was given to an anti govt protester instead of a deserving journalist. i’m a journalist & I like Fr Bwalya’s stance on RB & his minions but clearly, this was a mistake.
Fr Bwalya has every right to express himself but to politicise a professional event was way out of line. Please lets be progressive in the manner we conduct ourselves. The MISA Zambia event was not to be used for the red card campaign. There was no need to embarass the Minister. We may not like the MMD government but it is important to respect the portfolios because even us as opposition whenn we get there we would like to be respected. Fr Bwalya should not be overzealous, instead he must use his maturity to know when to do what.
MISA ZAMBIA UBUSHUSHI BWANKUNYA FITI TI…………………\:d/
Emmanuel Mwamba should be the last person to complain about the awarding of media trophy because he is a government tool, however the event was not suppossed to be politicised. MISA should disown the fake award given to Fr. Bwalya, otherwise acknowledgeing as a MISA award will set a bad preceedence. Awards should always discussed by an awards committee and not arbitrary decided by an individual.
There is nothing wrong to award Fr. Frank Bwalya. He deserved it. We want people who speak for the masses than some of you Journalist from ZNBC, Times and Daily mail practicing journalism of the belly.
In a democracy people hold different views. That is why procedures are important to secure consensus. You may think Fr. Frank Bwalya is your messiah but there those who believe that he is an immature priest who envies political fame and has lost his priestly vocation to extend the love of Christ to all. Shikapwasha showed maturity at the ceremony while Bwalya only managed to embarass MISA.
#2 Am humbled by your by unbiased articulation of the point. Surely we do not have to support or criticize anything simply because we belong or simpathysie with the other side. Objectivity is a virtue we should all try to acheive or acquire.
MISA is a sham. And the awarding of the trophy to Father Bwalya just cofirms this.
In our young democracy we are trying to move away from unilateralism or people making deciscions single handedly without consultation. Dictators do exactly the samething, make descisions for everybody and only his descisions matter. The award erronuously accorded to Fr. Bwalya is a typical example of dictatorship.
people who demand transparency from others must be transparent themselves. People who preach democracy must practice democracy.
I think i’ve made my point.
emmanuel mwamba and times of zambia awe mwandi.who doesnt know?
who does this priest miha think he is?
If MISA is a sham, what will you call Mwamba and Times of Zambia? Times of Zambia? When will they change the change to TImes of Banda? I thought Daily Mail, Times of Zambia and ZNBC are subsidiaries of Chiparamba Holdings (at some farm in Eastern Province). Managing Editor – William Banda. I could be wrong. My bad.