Chairperson
Hellen Mwale
Press Statement
15 October 2014
MISA Zambia welcomes appointment of the IBA Board – calls on them to be independent
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia would like to commend the government for appointing the Board of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA).
This step completes the establishment of the IBA and operationalization of the IBA Act which had been in limbo since 2002.
MISA Zambia always considered the IBA partially operational when the board was not in place. MISA Zambia felt that it was a mockery to state that the IBA was fully operational when the previous interim board comprised only the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Information and the Director General of the IBA.
MISA Zambia would like to urge the IBA Board to observe professionalism and act independently to ensure that the broadcast sector is independent and operates professionally.
We further call on government to adequately provide for independence of the IBA board by reinstating the appointments committee in the IBA Amendment Act of 2010 in order for the full purpose of the law to take effect. This should be in addition to including a clause that will allow Parliament to Ratify the IBA Board.
Hellen Mwale
Chairperson – MISA Zambia
It is difficult for appointees to be truly independent. They will, more often than not, toll the appointing authority’s spirit. We could have been guaranteed independent and professional guidance from this Board if it had been elected at a MISA forum. As it stands, he who pays the piper calls the tune.