
As Zambia tomorrow joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), government has given a go ahead to the media to launch the Zambia Media Council- ZAMEC to regulate professional conduct of Journalists.
ZAMEC which is aimed at creating a free media that is responsible to promoting quality journalism that facilitates citizenry demands and sensitivities was not launched last year in the previous MMD regime due to the latter government changing goal posts.
Information, Broadcasting and Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda says the media is free to set their own agenda in their noble role of informing, educating and entertaining the public.
Mr Shamenda said this on both Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation-ZNBC radio and television on the eve of the WPFD which falls on May 3.
The global theme for this year’s WPFD is “New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Society while the national theme in Zambia is “Access to Information: A Prerequisite to a Transformed Society.”
Mr Shamenda explained that the Patriotic Front government inherited a public media that had suffocated under heavy political patronage and interference in the previous MMD government adding that the public lost confidence because the media was highly compromised, unprofessional and acted un-ethically.
Mr Shamenda, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said the PF government has embarked on a wide range of measures to reposition the media as a voice of the voiceless, eyes and ears of the public.
He said the PF government has decontrolled, deregulated and depoliticized the media saying the media are no longer a preserve of the party in power.
Measures put in place to reposition the media in the country include the process towards the enactment of the Freedom of Information bill which is underway and the Independent Broadcasting Authority bill which is being actualised and will soon be announce.
Mr Shameenda also revealed that the PF Government has embarked on a project to set up television stations in all the 10 provinces of the country to accord the local people a voice in the governance and developmental issues in their localities.
He further disclosed that the digital migration agenda is gaining momentum in line with the 2015 deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union.
Government is further addressing the poor or non- existence of radio and television, poor infrastructure and other technological inadequacies such as accessing to internet especially in rural areas.
He reiterated government’s determination to ensuring that public access to information as a prerequisite to a transformed and prosperous nation is attained.
Mr Shamenda stated that the two themes were timely in line with the PF government’s agenda to empower citizens with information so that they participate effectively in the governance and development of the country.
ZANIS
This is good news. My only plea to the media is “use the media to unite people and never to bring disharmony. It was BBC’s insinuations that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that made the Americans to believe so. It was the wrong and partial dissemination of information that led to the darkest genocide in Africa, Rwanda. The Media, thus, has a moral responsibility, inform people correctly. I would father like to urge the government to have all media houses registered, even the Internet ones so that if there is any wrong information is said about anybody, they can be sued, This will help protect individuals and institutions from being defamed.
If the PF does all these things in the media industry plus a long lasting constitution awe kwena ninshi yapasa. Add good roads and other infrastructure like power, schools, hospitals, railways…
Liars, cooks, you are not saying the truth. What you’re actually saying is the media must make the ruling party look good.
The media can build a society at the same the media can destroy the society, so responsible journalism is cardinal and here is the chance to change things in zambia by media house. Good job PF
It is simple, privatize all state-owned news organizations. The cadres you appointment are there to serve you. They can’t bite the finger (government) that feeds them. It is also in their interest to help you stay in power for as long as possible. In short, you don’t mean what you say, boss.
For the first time in Zambia a breeze of liberty fresh air is breezing through the public media,haters can go hug a transformer.
Why did you retire those young souls at TOZ if you were professional,indeed you are fools,liars ,corrupt and annoying retirees stooges of Fred M’membe.Shameless Shamende failed trade unionist.
Only a fool cant see sense in what the Minister has said here. Thank you PF
In 1992, PAZA, ZUJ, ZAMWA, MISA called on the govt to privatise one or both the Times of Zambia and/or the Zambia Daily Mail. The govt’s response then was that these two will be kept by the govt (both the current President and Veep were in that govt). 20 years later the two newspapers are still in govt hands (both the President and Veep) are in the new govt. This time the Editors of TOZ &ZDM were hand picked (i.e. NO INTERVIEWS). 7 months after taking office, both newspapers have no boards (add to that the 9 months – i.e. Jan to Sept 2011 of MMD governance they ran without boards). So for 16 months the two newspapers (and the ZNBC) have had no boards! The only good thing heard over the past 7 months is that some shares (35%?) in the TOZ and ZDM will be sold, but is that privatisation?