Government says it did not bar any media organization from covering last Friday’s official opening of Parliament.
Chief government spokesman Joseph Katema says 129 media practitioners were accredited to cover the event by the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS).
Dr Katema, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said although 129 media practitioners were accredited, the logical arrangements of the official opening of Parliament were left to the National Assembly.
ZANIS reports that the Information and Broadcasting minister said this during a press briefing in Lusaka today.
He said government has progressively continued to build an environment where the media freely and responsibly collect and disseminate information to the public.
Dr Katema said government has sworn to protect the constitution, which is anchored on the protection of human rights and freedoms citizens with freedom of expression being among them.
He said in the same spirit of upholding the tenets of democracy, the Executive wing of government will not interfere in the work of the Judiciary and the Legislature.
Dr Katema said government’s commitment to freedom of expression is evidenced by government’s freeing of the airwaves through the operationalization of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Act which has led to 70 radios stations and 12 Television stations operating in the country.
Ba Katema since when ZANIS ever covered for other media. If you have no explanation better you keep quiet than giving lame excuses.
Ba Katema, you do not deserve the title of Doctor. I would have withdrawn it from you if I were the issuing authority. Do you think you are addressing fools or little kids who can’t think? It could have been wiser for you to apologise and acknowledge that you got it totally wrong. Why is it the trend in this govt that all you do is deny and deny even the obvious?
Ok. It appears he is implying the separation of powers here. Lets take the Legislature to task – which means find out from your dozy MPs why this was so and if you are not satisfied, take them to court! That is how separation of powers works. Lets see if it really is there…
Zambian leaders lie too much. Why is it so easy to lie for them? Is it because they are not held accountable for what they say? Or is it just the upbringing? Remember it is a sin to tell a lie bakatema.
If GRZ really did not block private and international media, then GRZ should sue the private media which published this lie. If the opposite was the case, then MISA and other media organisations should sue the government or seek judicial review. These matters are very critical. We should learn from countries that have suffered strife. These are markings of trouble which should not just be ignored.
Why is it that this government find it so hard to tell the truth? THese 2 i.d.i.o.t.s can sit there and tell the nation they never barred private media from covering the president? Where have they been all these weeks and only come to issue the statement AFTER the event has taken place, m.i.s.u.l.a. yabo! These guys don’t deserve any respect fi-colour fyabo! Who do they think they are leading? This issue was making headlines all through last week and the week before that and actually has even led to their PF cadres harrassing journalists…and to day after they have seen that the even is over they come out with their s.t.u.p.i.d heads to issue such a statement! Please you guys give us your citizens some respect if you want to be respected as leaders.
A government of LIERSbeginning with Sata faking illness to earn a salary without working for it, and dont kubeba is the culture of PF govt and lazy ministers to quoteSata’s words. They have no shame tolies told tothe nation each time they make a statement.