The United Party for National Development (UPND) has charged that President Michael Sata is a danger to press freedom and democracy.
In a statement released to Qfm, UPND Vice President Dr Cannicius Banda says in revoking the national broadcasting licenses that government recently issued to Radio Phoenix and Qfm, the President is keeping citizens uninformed which is greatest danger to the integrity of the nation and not media freedom.
Dr. Banda says keeping citizens uninformed using instruments of state power run counter to the very functions and purpose of the office of the president.
Dr. Banda adds that not issuing licenses based on the decisions of the previous administrations illustrates the case of basing decisions on flawed precedents.
He adds that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is at liberty to communicate using whatever medium is available to him as any other citizen.
UPND are spot on. Sata has always shown his wannabe dictator tendencies which is a very dangerous thought!!!! We all know what happens to dictators.
True to the point
Dr Banda you are also a threat to moronity
Thanks
the govt has a responsibility to protect the integrity and security of the nation from the narrow, parochial, selfish and irresponsible opposition.
unless and until the opposition can understand the importance on national security and integrity, here will only be community radio stations.
The same goes for Public Order Act (POA), the govt can easily let political parties, civil society and other organization to assemble and associate as they like, but they don’t care about preservation of security, protection and safety of life and public or private property.
They have not matured to that level, they need to be supervised by Libongani or Kasosa
49 yrs of self rule and we r still at the same point, in reality 100 yrs of independence Zambia will pretty much be more likely the same as today, 49 yrs no improvement in infrastructure; hospitals, school, universities, roads, airports
LT you mean business tonight where are you digging these fotos from? Comments reserved.
This is what you get with an illeducated villager occupying state house.
indeed..who doesn’t know that..apart form the dunderheads that voted for them..kekekekeke
Dont blame it on Sata, MMD are to blame, if they had issued these licenses to these broadcasting houses there was no way sata could have revolked them. Same with constitution, if they did what zambia’s wanted we could be better, but their political miscalculation has put them and others in disarray.
But Sata was part of this same MMD!
Your reasoning is hopeless!
Not only hopeless, Shi t
@ the eagle eye Sata was in mmd for ten solid years and sata’ s pf has been in power for two years. please stop the blame game and start working and deliver as you promised.
PF was voted in power because of numerous fake promises that sata made to gullible zambians. Sata was under an illusion that governing the country as easy as running a kantemba.
eagles eyes needs real attention,go and see the specialist at UTH
@Eagle eyes, Thats why we voted MMD out so we can have change with the New Government (PF). I thought PF leant about what the people of Zambia wanted after being in opposition for 10 years??!! Are these guys trainable?
MWEBANTU NI KAUNDA EULETEKA. SATAn IS A FOLLOWER AND A BIG DANGER TO PRESS FREEDOM. LET HIM BE REMINDED IN 2016 WHEN HE OPENS HIS DIRT MOUTH DURING HIS CAMPAIGNS. THE ISSUE OF THE CONSTITUTION IN 90 DAYS SHOULD EQUALLY BE BROUGHT OUT. A BIG THUG OF A HUMAN TWIT.
From what is obtaing right now, there is very little that Zambians should expect from the administration of Michael Sata and his PF. The man lacks the knowledge and the vision to drive the country forward and furthermore, for those who have got eyes to see, they can well tell that the one who is in the driving seat at the moment is former and first president Kenneth Kaunda. The country is slowly losing direction from a democratic state into a dictatorship and believe it or not with the current goings, it will be very difficulty to remove Sata from the presidency unless Zambians unite fully to remove him from power. They are good at giving false promises to the nation but the opposite is happening. Watch the space.
Dr Banda is right.What every Zambian should bear in mind is that Michael Sata’s dictatorship will make us suffer in many ways; his supporters will also suffer.We need to unite as a nation and stop Sata’s tyranny. Sata has no leadership qualities.His minions in cabinet and his new friend Kaunda are supposed to advise him on how to run the government but they are only interested in amassing wealth and enjoying luxurious life-styles.
The Opposition in Zambia is toothless. Where are your checks and balances? Dr Banda, instead of complaing, take action. You need to take action both within and without Parliament.
Mr Sata is breaking the Constitution and you are just complaing! The Constitution provides for freem of the press, freedom of association and conscience. The constitution provides for plural politics [multi-partism], and you are just complaing! Take them to court! Clearly the President is flouting the Constitution. He is ordering revokation of SIs, does he have the power under the Law? This is a matter in which the Opposition could seek judicial review. Viva Harrington!
Don’t just complain, act!
When Sata was in opposition i thought he knew what he was talking about but since he was voted in power this man has lost it i feel sorry for people staying in zambia who are not Sata ‘s family because this guy is not taking zambia anywhere he is the worst pesident zambia has ever had thank god zambians now are clever i don’t see his PF win the second term kuya bebele
What do you know about such issues, you failed doctor?
But why not use public media also which is available? QFM is like personal to holder by UPND
Kaunda privatised the Times of Zambia and installed Vernon Mwanga as the editor in chief in order to control news in Zambia. He created the Zambia News Agency to collect news only in line with UNIP policy. The Zambia Broadcasting Service was made a National broadcasting service to control news. It is a hallmark of dictatorships to determine on behalf of the people what is good news for them. It patronises its people. If Zambians cannot make their own minds about what they hear, how come they still voted for him (Sata).