The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has expressed disappointment and sadness at the Vice-President George Kunda’s assertion that it lacks credibility and has ganged up with Civil Society Organizations, to tarnish the government image.

MISA Acting Chairperson Nalumino Nalumino said in a press statement to Lusaka Times that its disheartening for Mr. Kunda to use Parliament to denounce his organization knowing that MISA has no position to defend itself from the attacks.

Mr. Nalumino said MISA has since written to Vice President to have an audience with him to discuss in details their concerns over their operations.

“We wish to state that MISA Zambia works to promote a sustainable, non-partisan, independent, plural and diverse media that informs and empowers society, promotes democracy, good governance, freedom of expression and media freedom in an ethical, competent, and professional manner,” Mr Nalumino said.

He said MISA has a duty to conduct on-going research and advocacy into the media in Zambia, including the state of media freedom in the country.

Mr.Nalumino said the outcome of the results is published in the book called “So this is Democracy?” which is a survey of media freedom in all the SADC countries where MISA has Chapters.

The MISA Chairperson, however, pointed out that in the 2010 edition of “So this is Democracy?” Zambia was found to have the second highest cases of media freedom violations in the SADC region, second to Zimbabwe.

“When we compile these statistics, we look at the number of times journalists are harassed, beaten, detained, jailed, threatened or suffer any other impediment in their work,” Mr Nalumino said.

He urged people concerned with the methodology of “So this is Democracy?” to study and understand how the statistics are compiled, before dismissing the findings.

Mr. Nalumino noted that the research methodology is proven and is based on reported cases of media violations that are in the public domain.

He said MISA Zambia considers Government as a partner in national development.

17 COMMENTS

Wanya Wanya June 25, 2011 At 2:21 pm

Pardon me, maybe its only me but I honestly believe that our VP chisushi. Imagine if RB kicked akaputi kuchulu and we remained with such a rifruff like Red Lips as presido! With the current spirit of death in state house. Mwe lesa twafweni…
- Mrs Pretty June 25, 2011 At 10:05 pm
  
  wanyawany walipena iwe ha ha ha ha
Kamba Sosa June 25, 2011 At 2:35 pm

George Kunda is retrogressive.The worst Vice President so far.Lupando Mwape abapo nabwino.Soldier on Nalumino&MISA.I know u from way back at Chongwe Boys Secondary.Let there be proper democracy in Zambia.
Ponyax June 25, 2011 At 2:53 pm

Wanya wanya you’ve just made my day. HA HA HA
SCORESCORE June 25, 2011 At 5:04 pm

For sure this government has failed us,in nearly everything.All they want to hear is those lies on thier controlled MEDIA,of endorsing them shame.Maybe they wanted to hear that MISA has endorsed them,who knows from this party which barre certain people from attending funerals
NAPAPA SANA !!!!!! June 25, 2011 At 5:16 pm

#1, its sad to have Kunda’s calibre as Veep. I listened to a recording of the same comment of Kunda in parliament through Radio phoenix online, Ala I tell you I felt embarrased even though I was alone. You know he speaks English using bemba, imagine the poor accent and talking nonsense at same time: “awa nashoni mr speaker, our gavament, MISA is a boode that is there just to discrediti gavament…” I almost cried!!!!!!!!
- Mrs Pretty June 25, 2011 At 10:04 pm
  
  Guys mwali penapo kaaa ha ha ha ha ha! That is exactly how these redlips talk wonder how he argues his law
Wanya Wanya June 25, 2011 At 5:23 pm

@ 4 Napap Sana. You are spot on man! In fact he likes saying ” oke” before he speaks nonsense. Ba Frank Mutubila twafweni. Ati he speaks English using bemba, puhwa hwa.
Kashimani June 25, 2011 At 7:06 pm

There is no need to seek audience with him, just vote him out of government and you will have solved the problem. Elections are coming soon.
Pafwenamwine June 25, 2011 At 10:21 pm

George Kunda is not Bemba is lala
leon June 25, 2011 At 11:40 pm

One observation,chiluba was better than the two combined,i mean ala bee and geko.very serious,i have never seen mmd presido being interviewed on tv other than when he is going and coming from beging for money for his party from serious gvts of other countries.i am right.
red lips June 26, 2011 At 3:15 am

forgive the aids patient GK he soon reap what he has sown
- Good June 26, 2011 At 7:58 pm
  
  You are right , AIDS Patients balasabaila pliz forgive it.
Tafiweme ifintu muchalo June 26, 2011 At 3:43 am

I think GK can complain about the media … i was watching ZNBC and they were just showing his hair which has become like that of a baby … ala imishishi nashipepuka mudala ulentinya!
STEVE June 26, 2011 At 4:36 am

What is wrong with this guy, he keeps shooting down any progressive idea as long as it does not come out of his mouth. Sometimes, I wonder why these guys rushed into politics, they must have tanked in their previous jobs. On employment statistics he said no, how do you claim meaningful job creation if you have no figures to compare to? This guy is taking Zambia backwards and this should not be tolerated.
Pepecho Suffering June 26, 2011 At 6:13 pm

@12 STEVE, that point you have mentioned of Kunda saying NO on employment statistics was very annoying. I started wondering if Kunda still keep his degree or he handed it over to William Banda in exchange for mediocrecy and idiocy. This guy is an embarrassment to Zambian politics
mwape June 27, 2011 At 4:35 pm

Right to the point, Wanya Wanya. VEEP ayi taya with his tantrums. VIVA MISA! VIVA DEMOCRACY! VIVA FREE SPEECH! VIVA FREE MEDIA!