The Southern Africa Editors’ Forum (SAEF) says there is no ‘criminal law’ in Zambia that inhibit Journalists from submitting stories to online media publications.
SAEF President Kenny Makungu says Journalists and any member of the general public was free to write stories to online publications without intimidation.
Mr. Makungu has for this reason urged the PF Government to remove what he calls all inimical laws to media freedom like other countries have done especially in West Africa.
“It’s not criminal to submit stories to online publications because there is no law in Zambia that impedes Journalists or any other person to do write a story or submit an article to the Watchdog or any other online media,” Mr. Makungu said.
ZANIS reports that the SAEF President was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
He was flanked by SAEF Secretary General Patson Phiri, Treasurer Enock Ngoma, and Committee member, Chansa Mayani.
“We recommend that the Zambian government should remove all the laws inimical to media freedom and withdraw cases involving their professional activities, ” he said.
Mr. Makungu who is also lecturer at the University of Zambia ( UNZA ) school of mass communication , said this in the wake of recent harassment of Zambian Journalists who were harassed this month in their course of duties.
He advised Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Joseph Katema to ensure that media personnel and houses operate without any form of intimidation.
He said government through Dr. Katema’s ministry should ensure that journalists are protected as a fourth estate who disseminate, educate and entertain the people on a daily basis.
Mr. Makungu said the harassment of Journalists by Police Officers on was bad for democracy and media freedom.
On the Freedom of Access Bill, Mr. Makungu urged government to table the Bill in this current session of Parliament.
Mr. Makungu urged the PF Government to review pieces of legislation that were in-effective among that prohibition of publication of seditious practices, public order act cap 113, state security Act cap 11, the ZNBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority Acts on appointment of board members.
Meanwhile, Mr. Makungu says his organization strong joins other media bodies that have called for the immediate release of three foreign journalists jailed in Egypt.
But Chief Government Spokesperson Dr. Joseph Katema has time and again assured protection for scribes operating in the country.
Dr. Katema however, vowed act against some online media companies whose articles he described as malicious and unreliable.
Good observations by the three presenters.Dr katema ‘s outburst on online media as fabricating stories would be believed had 75% of watchdog reports were false but unfortunately it’s not the case.The sickness of mcs,the sickness of Kennedy sakeni(hsrp),manipulation of the draft,kabimba interfering with the judicially,mcs sneaking out the country,stalled economy,excessive borrowing,high cost of living and add more…
@chikubabeniso
You have put it more clearly. I have come to appreciate ZWD for their forthright reporting. PF govt has been deliberately acting irresponsibly by withholding public information and plainly lying to the nation. Now we know, courtesy of ZWD, that president Sata is as good as dead and won’t be coming home alive, and this is not a malicious assertion but a fact. The problem we are sitting with now is Kabimba usurping power by deceit and I hope the powers that be know their way around this issue and will kick out the impostor.
katemo is failing to run his constituency in chingola just like his colleague samusa. what legacy are these clowns going to leave? gagging the media will not change the status quo and peoples opinion now
@Matipa
Was it Luo who mispronounced those two names; Katemo and Samusa?
Awe naseka …
ZWD is keeping us well informed. PF used in there foer to the Tripartite elections.
I saw no wrong for ZWD. We r PRAYING FOR THE WILL OF GOD over our Sick President Sata.
Who is going to protect Zambian citizens from the Police?They seem to be above the law under PF..abducting people,beating them on suspicion of being ZWD journalists.
The poor today are fully aware that their conditions are man-made ,constitutionally deprived and not God -decreed.
Sorry should have read ,Zambians not the poor ,my apologies.
I SMELL DEATH AHEAD OF US
@ Judge, tell us more.
ZWD which predicted PF to loose 2011 election by a wider margin,
ZWD which predicted PF to loose 2011 election by a wider margin, ZWD failed even to sell hard coppies but initialy thot they had all the support of the pipo until they failed on there own.
This is a no brainer. PF need to understand that even if such a law existed, it cannot be reinforced in the first place. Its like trying to regulate how much Oxygen in the atmosphere should cross Zambian Borders in and out. Ask China or North Korea.
Of course Dr Joseph Katema the PF Chief Govt spokesperson who is threatening to regulate online media knows it is simply NOT doable, period. But he has to be seen to be doing something along those lines to fit into PF management style. I am sure his ailing boss Sata believes it is possible, and that’s what counts in PF.
ZWD is not media….They are a mockery to real journalists like the editors of this website. ZWD has no shame in publishing lies about others while they hide in cyberspace. Real journalist are not afraid of making their identities known or do they fear prosecution
I can see sense in your writing,,I keep on wondering each time I hear or read these on line news..only lies and lies so I ask myself could it be that journalism is all about lies????? More especially on the head of state bamumbwe nensoni shalipwa ,kuti lelo babepa mailo kabili babwekeshapo mwe..nisebana wikute.
I agree with you, ZWD is lacks professionalism in their reporting. Their writing lacks objectivity and smells bitterness. I dont support our public media, but whoever is behind ZWD is bent on causing strife and falls below what we should acept as meaningful reporting
There’s no controlling of online news business even for the most powerful govts around the world.GRZ is living in a fantasy world of self deception.
@8 Nsunkutu nsunkutu
ZWD is the only media publishing truth which is relied upon by PF members as well.
You sound like you have taken leave of your senses. All secrecy and myths surrounding Mr Sata and his state of health has not been informed to the nation, hand over power to Kabimba was not witnessed by any senior PF members and all this is ‘Donchi Kubeba’, deceiving Zambians. ZWD updates Zambia on what is happening and schemes by one group of PF outsmarting the other – chaos in PF is about to erupt and pangas and hidden machetes will once again be in use to hack each other. Zambia is a peaceful nation, we urge PF to restrict hacking among themselves.
Fellow country men and women not forgetting the so called educated who at one time miss lead FTJ and his government. The most important issue we must focus on is not about having the criminal law or what, but is the fact that journalists must be factual in their reportings. May be our friends’ so called profession is all about lies,lies lies. It does not feel good for us always to be reading about unfounded stories,could this be news any way….kutumpa kulya.
Chikubabe,
There is nothing the Watchdog has said about this PF govt and Sata that has not turned out to be true. Like they said he has dementia and ailing, now we know it’s true whence the indefinite hospitalization in Israel. Look at this Information Minister Dr Joseph Katema too, he is ailing and could even die before his brother, Sata. And when the Watchdog tells you the truth, you freak out! Ichishinka tata, chilomfwisha ichifukushi ku mutima.
we need regulation even on blogging, pipo insult our leaders so much , no respect at all
Who is “our” iwe ka Anyoko iwe? Leaders must first earn people respect by respecting themselves! bThen way Sata has been behaving leaves a lot to be desired. I mean, look at the acrobatics he stirred up in court recently, the masalamusi he sparked in ZAF Livingstone etc, who would respect a lumpenizing fool like him! If you have too much respect in you, I would advise you reserve it for yourself, not Abena Ukwa Charlie Kays Mwango. I mean, we can all see the fool is immolating right before our eyes and yet he claims he is fit! If that was fit them I beg to be should what sick looks like.
How can a person trained as journalist submit an article to publishers who are not known? They cannot easily be found in case of any legal matters. These publishers may not even be Zambians. Any way, its time higher institutions of learning discarded these useless courses like mass communication and journalism because anyone is a journalist these days including myself without any formal training in journalism.
EVEN THOSE WHO CONDEM THE WATCHDOG THEY ALWAYS READ IT SO WHAT IS THE USE. THE GOVT IS ALWAYS RESPONDING TO THE STORIES ON THE WATCHDOG. WHAT IS THE NEED YOU GUYS TO BAN IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE DAILY PAPERS DO NOT GIVES NEWS AND THEY ARE JUST GOVT MOUTH PIECE AND SO IN THIS ITC ERA WHAT DO YOU EXPECT.
THE TRUTH BE TOLD PF HAS MESSED UP BIG TIME EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK. ECONOMY, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSIONS, CHIEFS, DIRTNESS, THIEVING AND CORRUPTION IN TENDERS, HIGH COST OF LIVING, LAND GRABBING, VIOLENCE OF CADRES, VICE PRESIDENT INSULTING CITIZENS, TRIBAL APPOINTMENT OF BEMBAS. I COULD GO ON AND ON NOT TO MENTIN THE COSTITUTION. SURELY THESE ARE NOT CAUSED BY ONLINE MEDIA BUT POOR LEADERSHIP. WAKE UP PF AND WAKEUP ZAMBIANS YOU DESERVE FAR MUCH BETTER.
ZWD is the favorite almost free media that a lot of Zambians both within and outside have come to cherish so much.They are consistent and many of their “speculations” have come to pass.How they gather sensitive data boggles my mind up to now…
It is a basic requirement that the media operates unimpeded in all legislative laws. it is equally a basic requirement that reporters do so transparently and without being malicious or injurious of any personality. The ZWD should report responsibly, openly, transparently and without fear of the truth.
I fear for the Inspector General of Police because her days are numbered on one hand……….But I like her for whatever changes might come in the near future.
… ZWD is getting a lot of free publicity. While their writing (grammar and spelling) has a lot of room for improvement, they generally seem to have access to a lot of information.
The trick to reading ZWD is this:
1. Read a story on ZWD
2. Read LT and corroborate
3. Google other news site for further corroboration
Otherwise, I see nothing wrong the ZWD or LT. If a story is false, then it is false. It is only fools who believe everything they hear/read without verifying.
#OneZambia
Information is Power, i think both the community and the government benefits from that. I think we need journalist who will use their career maturely and we need the government to provide a fair playing grounds without intimidation.
Look at South Africa, the information is helping to overcome corruption and misuses of power and the society becomes a healthy place. Zambia can learn from others…. too