Lusaka City Mayor Daniel Chisenga has challenged media institutions in Zambia to focus on informing and educating the public on matters that enhance development.
Mr. Chisenga said media institutions should desist from giving platforms to members of society that incite violence and insult the President in the name of freedom of speech.
He was speaking in Lusaka yesterday when he toured Power FM Radio Station which is aiming at promoting culture, arts and tourism.
Mr. Chisenga said the opening of Power FM in Lusaka this year was an achievement to the local council which is seeking to increase information dissemination to the public.
He said government has demonstrated through this year’s youth day celebration theme “opportunity for youth through enterprise” that it was ready to support initiatives and provide an enabling environment for the media to operate.
He said the coming of Power FM on the media scene provides the Lusaka City Council with an opportunity to explore possibilities of partnering with the radio station in communicating to various stakeholders on development initiatives that the council is undertaking.
And Power FM Chief Executive Officer Kenny Tonga has commended the Patriotic Front government for granting his station a permit to transmit in Lusaka and surrounding areas.
Mr. Tonga said Power FM applied for a broadcast licence in 2009 but only managed to get it in February this year.
He said since the Patriotic Front government assumed office 17 months ago, youth entrepreneurial initiatives were being attended to faster than before adding that this was a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to delivering on its promises.
He observed that Power FM was planning to provide a different dimension of media operation by creating a more professional avenue focused on developmental initiates for the tourism sector.
Mr. Tonga said his station has since created 20 direct jobs for the youths and was ready to work with government in ensuring that development messages reach the public in time.
He said with the hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference, the radio station would encourage domestic tourists to visit some of the spectacular sites of Zambia.
He observed that it was the duty of the media to raise the profile of Zambia’s tourism sector during and after the conference.
Mr. Tonga said tourism was one sector that had great potential to create jobs and improve the economy of the country if it was well exploited.
ZANIS
The govt needs to have open dialogue with the public. For example, the President can hold a Press conference and address all the issues the country is facing to avoid speculation. I can’t remember when was the last time that happened. The President only speaks to the citizens through his sworing-in ceremonies
If all he can manage is peep through cameras when swearing in relatives and political prostitues, then we have no choice but blog and maybe insult so that we get some response.
Lusaka Mayor Daniel Chisenga must realise that people will continue insulting and worst of all become violent as long as President Sata is not seen to perform according to their expectations. Remember, these are men and women who braved the strains of standing in long queues for Sata to become President. Added to that, they have the burden of paying tax to keep him in state house. To avoid the insults, let him perform according to the promises he made as well as hold press conferences to inform the nation about the direction the country is going. Infact, if he proves to be worthwhile, it is the people that will be defending him from insults.
IT is SATA who is abusing the Public media by daily insulting the Opposition leaders.
Sata is the one that needs to be caged.
If we say whilst HH was busy building legally his wealth, SATA was busy bonking SUBA, Tresphore Mpundu’s sister and Kaseba whilst he was married to the first wife. IS bwana Mayor this an Insult or fact?????
Sata is not a King, his a voted leader who can be removed when his term ends so pls, he should take care of us the voters.
There are plans underway to assasinate the president during press conference engineered by the clique of oposition, RB, and the international criminal amstadam. thats why no conference for now. remember the paid retired army generals story?
Its like this issue of insulting will not go away. People do you know that calling 76years old sata a dictator by anyone young is disrepect and insulting IF YOU USING CHIBEMBA or another zambian language. Looking at most the bloggers here are not pure tonga, bemba, lozi, ngoni..etc because we all are dialuted with english language and western culture. So in what language and culture are we to define insulting now?????
Calling any one a Dictator no matter his age is not an insult. A dictator is one who suppresses other peoples freedoms and rights in order for him to perpetually stay in power. If this is an insult to you then you are not part of this World. How else should we describe dictators if not by calling them so?
This president is not inspiring. It is very clear the man, Sata, is a mental patient. The best he can do is to go away, step down and let people who are fit take charge. This is not an insult, it is a FACT!
@Iamfras, the President can still address the nation via radio and television if those security fears are really genuine. I doubt RB and cronies would be bold enough to carry out such an act. There was a lot of talk about Obama being assassinated when he became President but that did not stop him from going around the country meeting the people that voted him into power. Our leaders only care to speak to their people during campaigns.
It seems ZWD is inaccessible today.
yes china at work
The gov. really want to close it. pls media freedom
ZWD…BETTER IT REMAINS LIKE THAT THAN IT INCITING VIOLENCE AND SPREADING LIES. UPND IS USING IT TO CHEAT TONGAS.SHAME
The Mayor is a hypocrite. Isn’t it the president who insults others during his useless swearing-in ceremonies? How then does he expect others to respect him when he respects no one? Mr Mayor, don’t be childish and political. You are not addressing children; Zambians are intelligent people and are seeing what is going on. People can only respect those who show respect for others – There are no two ways about it. So, first tame your man in statehouse then you will receive respect. As things stand, where the president thinks he can insult anyone because he is the president, I am afraid no one will respect him. There will be more insults than you have ever seen directed at Sata if he does not change. So, Mr Mayor, concentrate of cleaning the city other than politicking.
shut up Mr Mayor before we insult u as well.
thank you
All is well when its an eye for an eye,a level playing field and a mutual respect for freedom of speech.Mr mayor,respect is earned,its mutual and not just given willy nilly to those who expect to abuse their bully pulpit and not get fire returned.Typical of you hypocrites to cry without hinting why you attracted heavy blows in 1st place.
Has the time of blocking sites which are not in good books with the govt become a reality? Freedom of speech and democracy the way we have come to know is will soon be over and soon again we shall be looking for jobs outside this country. What a shame. Change is the only certain thing in today’s world but some change…..leaves a lot to be desired.
Govt should leave the media alone
They promised the would before being elected – and made a big stink about free press for a few months after. I guess time is now telling the truth…..
Typical of all abussive persons or tyrants i’ve heard of or even met.They’re very thin skinned – they can dish it out but can’t take it.
Attention Chisenga and Sata
According to the court of public opinion and undisputed knowledge, the general public at large did not form a formal alliance with the PF regime. The PF and Sata must not feel that the public is tied to terms of a non-existent alliance whereby Sata must co-determine with the public about insults which are suitable for him. The public must construct their own insults which must be free of any external influence from Sata. The public is not worried about the shifting forces in the classes of Zambia but the most vexing item which has been brought to the fore, is Sata’s problematic approach in radically reminding us not to insult him. Why?
There are matters where we will all agree and, similarly there are matters where we won’t agree with Sata. Finally, hell
Zambia is a democratic country and people should be free to express their views and grievances unless of course Mr Mayor expects us to go back to UNIP communist era? We shall continue to insult those who continue to abuse power and public resources in this beautiful country called Zambia until the day we see a civilised approach to governance in the country. We are insulting because we love our country but sick and tired of selfish politicians whose only intent is to line their pockets at the expense of us all. Fight this injustice Mr Mayor not the voters and then you can sleep easy.
This is the same mayor who arrested some one expressing their views, now he wants to warn the nation over our freedoms. Dream on.
Whats happening to ZWD, zambianeye and zedchronicle today?….they are not accessible.
Government! Why?
what moderation when i am simply asking about what has happened to Zambian watchdog
Iwee ka Chisanga remember how he ,i mean SATANA insulted RB,Levy etc on daily basis and thats how he went into state house because his deceit lies.Chisanga clean Lusaka and the country ,let him creat jobs for Zambians not Bemba thieves,then we shall respect him.As for now sorry ,you read your Past Newspaper for propaganda.
mwebantu wat is happening to watchdog today? i relay on ZWD for genuine news. i hope no one is attempting to bring it down
This mayor must concentrate on cleaning his very dirty city rather than venturing into the area of gagging the press. What is wrong with the political clowns north of the Limpopo River?
thats the only way to air out our grievances..viva media freedom!
please let people debate freely, insults are not welcome wether they are directed at HH, Nevers or Micheal. lets just debate and express our opinions. i am not happy that Bembas seem to be favoured in terms of appointment are you going do a kama citizens arrest on me ba mayor?
Sata deserves insults because he is irritating millions of us Zambians. What he is doing at State house is not what we employed him for. Sata is an irritable tribalist! Sata is counter productive. Sata is corrupt. Sata is a shameless devil. Sata has no respect for others. Sata thinks he is the only complete human being. Sata thinks Zambia is his farm-house.
The project called Zambia has seen mushrooming of a generation of people who view insults as a normal thing. This is common because the fathers of nowadays have no time for their children and they insult infront of their children. Let us have respect for ourselves and others. if I heard my child insulting, he would be grounded and punished accordingly. What has gone wrong in Zambia kanshi.
LetPF and Sata drink their own medicine. Mayor clean up your dirty city before you become a victim.
lets let our pipo debate freely with out fear. i dont encourage insults but i also dont encourage supression of humans. its true PF has recruited alot of bembas. now are you going to do a ka citizens arrent on me Mr. Mayor?
THE ZWD IS OFF THE AIR THIS MORNING, I WISH IT COULD BE CONSIGNED TO THE RUBBISH BIN OF HISTORY FOREVER.
IN THEIR TRAILS OF INSULTS THEY HAVE NOT SPARED ANYONE INCLUDING KK, HER HIGHNESS CHIEFTAINSHIP NKOMESHA, HIS EMINENCE TREPHOR MPUNDU THE ARCHBISHOP OF LUSAKA, THE VICE PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY AND INDEED ANYONE WHO TRIES TO SIDE WITH GOVERNMENT.
BY USING FOUL LANGUAGE THEY CLAIM THEY PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR WORK FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DESTROY WHAT THEY DO TO HARM THEM. THESE BUFFOONS FEAR THAT DRUG DEALERS AND THEIR LAWYERS, POLITICAL MERCENARIES, CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND SOME JOURNALISTS WOULD DESTROY THEM
Abuse of freedom of speech!
i agree
ZWD have overstretched their luck!
point taken, but we can insult ministers and their spouses?
The Zambian Watchdog is up and running right now.
thank you, i am off to ZWD
U think SATA will be there for all th time shame on you useful *****s?
So kenny TONGA has opened another radio station in Lusaka other than the YAR fm in kitwe.The youths should emulate this guy.
So who else are we going to insult?
Is he offering himself to take it for the president?