THE Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has written to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Amos Malupenga, seeking an audience with him to discuss the controversy surrounding UNZA Radio.
This is according to a statement released by MISA on Friday.
Government has warned the radio station to desist from projecting partisan interests because its licence does not allow it to do so.
The Zambia Information, Communications Authority (ZICTA) has reportedly reduced the radius transmission of UNZA Radio from 1000 watts to 260 watts.
MISA Zambia vice chairperson Nalumino Nalumino, described the adjustment of radius for UNZA Radio as illegal.
But when contacted for a comment, Mr Malupenga described MISA’s claims as cheap lies designed to tarnish the image of Government.
Mr Malupenga said it is not true that Government is gagging UNZA Radio.
He explained that all community radio stations are required by law to broadcast 500 watts.
“MISA doesn’t mean well. You tune into UNZA Radio at the Daily Mail and you will be able to listen to the station,” Mr Malupenga said.
He wondered why MISA is issuing misleading statements to the public when there’s a pending meeting with the Ministry of Information today or tomorrow.
“It is not true that we have limited the radius of UNZA Radio because I was listening to it while in Chisamba. What ZICTA has done is regularising all community radio stations,” Mr Malupenga said.
Mr Malupenga said if MISA means well, they should have waited for a meeting with the ministry.
“MISA is misleading the public. And there’s no need for them to peddle such propaganda,” Mr Malupenga said.
In his statement, Mr Nalumino said MISA Zambia is appalled that the PF government which has on several occasions pledged to uphold freedom of expression to allow Zambians to freely express themselves on various issues, appears to be back-peddling.
“Government should realize that the Constitution provides for such freedom because it is a fundamental right which is even recognised by various international instruments that Zambia has ratified,” Mr Nalumino said.
“Recently, there have been unwarranted threats on media institutions by government, the latest one being the reduction of the radius of UNZA Radio, as well as the suspicious dismissal of Evelyn Hone College Journalism lecturer Clayson Hamasaka,” Mr Nalumino said.
He said the reduction in the UNZA Radio radius has put the radio station at a risk of breaching its contractual obligations with its advertisers.
He said MISA Zambia is calling for the implementation of the Independent Broadcasting Authority so that broadcast media regulation, can be independent of political interests.
Last week, the Ministry of Information expressed concern that UNZA Radio has departed from its core purpose of educational broadcasting to politics.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
