FORMER President Rupiah Banda is expressing the views of the MMD when he attacks the public media, his spokesperson Mikatazo Wakumelo says.
Mr Wakumelo said this in an interview yesterday when contacted to state whether the former head of State will apologise for accusing the public media of becoming a mouthpiece of the ruling Patriotic Front.
Mr Banda attacked the media during the MMD card renewal exercise last Saturday.
“I have always told you people that when there are party matters, refer the queries to the party. It was a party function so I have no comment because party matters have nothing to do with the office of the fourth president,” Mr Wakumelo said.
Mr Wakumelo wondered why he was being asked about issues that were purely MMD matters.
“I don’t know what you are up to. Ask the people in that institution (MMD),” he said.
But MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe said the party cannot answer for the former head of State.
However, Major Kachingwe said the MMD shares the feelings of its leader.
“But if he feels the way he feels (that public media organisations have become mouthpieces of the government), then he’s right and that’s the way we are feeling,” Maj Kachingwe said.
He denied ever calling any of the public media houses to instruct them what to write.
“I have been MMD national secretary. I never called the Daily Mail to instruct them to spike a story or to tell you what to write but you want to pretend that we were giving you instructions,” he said.
Maj Kachingwe said the MMD never issued instructions to public media houses, just like the PF is not dictating to the media at present.
“Even now Government is not issuing instructions but you want to please the powers that be, to rid yourselves of the wrongs you committed against the then opposition party (PF),” he said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
The old man is miguided on this issue and many others. As he beggs for forgiveness in the background, he should also guard his mouth if he is to get any public sympathy. Right now, him speaking about the media is nauseating as it reminds one of the debacle we had during his reign!!!
The President of all Zambians indeed!!!!! Rest old man!!!
This is ot news Atase ! Lt get to work !!
This is not news Atasey ! Lt get to work !!
Let RB test his own medicine ( yamunyokolo not being in power)
Mr.President RB reorganise the party kos bouncing back is not imposible looking at the way pf is handling national issues.they still have a party mentality and it maight take them frever to ralise that its more than that which they need to do.running a party should be diffrent from running a country.
The attitude a lot of workers have is to project the future in negative terms and therefore act today in erroneous ways. RB is within his rights because most of these media houses DO NOT have any proof that they were coerced, aside from verbal things. This makes for a lousy platform to operate from meaning you will always earn the wrath of the very people you allowed to manipulate you for fear of losing your jobs… And this trend is everywhere, among grown men and women who pretend to be professionals.
MMD bouncing back in your dreams. you can boucnce back mu toilet mukunya. No one can trust you anymore bamakaka
Just because he did it doesn’t make it right. Life gives us time to repent our sins.
There’s a difference between confessing one’s sins and attacking someone else for doing the same things. This old man is not apologizing or confessing. He’s doing the pot and kettle thing. Be objective.
Ati chapita mawa chili paiwe and this exactly the way MMD is feeling as they thought they will reign for ever and abuse media. I like Kachingwes’ tell on media and am sure the media must wake up and e positive in their news making. I find it dull of a media house to shower praise to the ruling party daily at the expense of better news.
The best RB could do at the moment is to put cello tape across his big mouth.
Nomba ka Thandi kali vunerable. kabili ba task force balika kwankwanya. I think I should rescue her from RB and marry her. Kaili kali namahafu isha muili Mphundu Trust slush fund.
For 20 years the media was yours, now, you know how it feels to have no media. In fact, you are lucky they are even covering your feelings, quote for quote; so the PF are doing an amazing job; they are professional enough to allow your sentiments. Try the Zambian watchdog if you want a good representation. They love you bwana president quatro!!
Journalism in Zambia died a long time ago and it is buried at Leopard’s Hill cemetry under a tomb stone saying, ‘Here lies Charles Mando…’
The rest have been spineless puppets who have never resigned when the editorials are pro-government. Now we have The Post doing exactly the same, turning a blind eye to Sata’s wrongs and directing the news to RB.
Dear THE SAINT, your statement on The Post and Sata is not totally accurate. Yes, they are supporting his programs, but they do also criticize. They were strongly opposed to his speech against the demonstrations in Southern Province for example. They made it very clear that the demonstrators, whether right or wrong, have the right to express themselves and should not be suppressed by police.
The problem with journalists is that they were the failures in school who could not go into any sensible school or job who opted for to be journos. Have you ever had an A-student decide to give up Medicine or Engineering to go into journalism? These guys are the ones who could not even write proper English who are now feeding us rubbish. Unfortunately, journalism is like a mental kitchen. If you have a dunderhead chef, except to feed on crap and don’t expect a healthy mental life. The quality of journalism in any society determines the quality of thinking in that society.