Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili has called on the Turkish Government to consider supporting the media industry to enhance their performance in the country.
Mr. Kambwili who is also Chief Government Spokesperson says media houses particularly Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (ZNBC),Times Printpak and the Zambia Daily Mail were among the media houses needing support as they are facing numerous operational challenges.
He cited lack of equipment and motor vehicles as some of the major challenges the three institutions are facing in the discharge of their duties.
Mr. Kambwili further said due to limited resources, which have to be shared among many other needy areas, the three public media institutions have continued to face challenges in their operations.
The Minister said this when he met Turkish Ambassador to Zambia Ahmet ARDA at his office today to discuss among others, the state of the public media institutions in the country.
The meeting was also attended by Information Deputy Minister Forrie Tembo, Permanent Secretary Godfrey Malama and other senior officials from the Ministry.
“Talking about ZNBC, our national broadcaster established by an act of Parliament, we have a number of challenges ranging from obsolete equipment to mobility. We hope the donor communities like you can come in and help us address some of these challenges,” said Kambwili.
Mr. Kambwili stated that the public media wants to cover the whole country but are unable to do so because of inadequacy of equipment.
He since appealed to the Turkish Ambassador to explore ways through which his country can help build capacity in the Zambian journalists through training by awarding of scholarships.
And the ambassador assured the Minister that his Embassy is ready to work with the Ministry of Information to improve the operations of the three public media institutions.
Mr. ARDA said the Turkish Embassy in Zambia will work hard to link the public media to other media institutions in Turkey with the view of further exploring other areas of media cooperation.
He also assured the Minister that his government will also consider his request for capacity building in the community radio stations across the country.
How we have become a nation of beggars. Oh by the way he who pays the piper calls the tune. What will the turkish get in return if they indeed put their money into our “national” media?
Hope this is the begining of mending relations with the Turkish after the disgracing them with the airport deal.Such things should not happen.
Chimbwili is shockingly dull. Does he think the Turkish have forgotten how PF and Sata dramatically cancelled their flagship contract to construct a new KKIA terminal? Why should they now waste time with useless and bankrupt national media that nobody reads, listens to or watches?
Chachine itizi turu, we are now a begging nation for everything. Why have a big cabinet in Africa when money wasted to pay ministers whose duty is to KK airport to see Changwa Lungu off and welcome him could be used to improve the media. and who would really support the media when they are mainly used as PF tools for propaganda? No wonder the media is struggling.
Hon. Kambwili,
Are you familiar with Turkish government “support” of theirs own media industry?
Constant intimidation, censorship, closure, jailing of journalist on flimsiest of pretexts and occasional murder which remains unsolved?
If that is your idea of promoting media industry in Zambia, I have feeling that huge majority of Zambians may object.
Looking to Turkey for a boost in the local media industry. These guys are really running out of ideas. All those big meetings we see on TV and in the papers,, and this is their best plan