Government has appealed to the British government to assist in equipping the three public media houses, namely the Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Chishimba Kambwili, says ZNBC studios need total overhaul while Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail are over-burdened with statutory debt owed to the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) which has adversely affected their operations.
Mr Kambwili, who is also Chief government Spokesperson, also says training of media personnel in the three institutions is another area where government would appreciate the British government’s assistance.
He further says government plans to offload some shares in the Times of Zambia after improving the newspaper’s financial standing through recapitalisation and conversion of statutory debt into share capital.
The minister, however, says government remains committed to the enactment of the Access to Information (ATI) Bill and that consultations are ongoing to this effect.
Mr Kambwili said this when British High Commissioner to Zambia, James Thornton, paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Lusaka today.
And British High Commissioner to Zambia, James Thornton, has hailed the Zambian government’s efforts in entrenching media freedom in the country.
Mr Thornton cited the establishment of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and the ongoing process to enact the Access to Information (ATI) law as some of the shining examples of government’s commitment to reform and reposition the Zambian media so that it plays its full and rightful role in national development.
Mr Thornton said it is important that government persists in its defence and promotion of media freedom as demonstrated so far as the benefits to the country are huge in the long
Still begging. And without the faintest trace of shame either.
Kambwili needs to liposuction his mouth!
Zambia is capable of salvaging itself if people are willing to do so and stop being greedy.
So ashamed!
Are we so disabled that we need other people to do things for us?
We might as well ask to become colonised or protectorates of GB or China or Sweden.
How does this become Britain’s problem. No wonder foreigners are always laughing at you.
Sort out your own problems, that’s why you campaigned to be elected to those offices
Kambwili please don’t forget our LT, they are probably 2nd best after Zambia Dailymail.
Hate them or love them, whites, the sons of Japhet the son of Noah, are a blessed race and we blacks, nubians, sons of Cush, the son of Ham, the son of Noah can’t do without them. Its Noah the prophet of God who pronounced a divine blessing upon them in Genesis 9:27. Noah said “May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be a servant to them.” No matter how we try we shall forever remain beggars to the white man, till Jesus comes.
Thought we got independence? Why running to England but you kicked guy Scott and calling him names ? Put Zambia for rent or sale with the weak economy
Gods image ichimpashanya chakwa Lesa
Well, Mr Chimbwili, “No!”.
Zambia is now an independent nation, free men we stand, under the flag!
We will not, after 50 years of independence, go back to our former master – who have since disowned us, and ask for hand outs!
Grow a backbone for crying out loud! Do something!
Go to other nation to learn from them, but not to beg and plea for handouts.
#OneZambia
Britain will not support mouth pieces of a corrupt GRZ where other political parties are not allowed airtime.
I know that the British are not so dull as to finance media entities that are used by the ruling party for its propaganda and the suppression of the opposition.
Yes, now who has wasted, mismanaged and pocketed all the huge amounts of money that those three organisations have swallowed up over the decades? The same government that is now asking for its own wanton wastage to be subsidized by the British taxpayer? President Kambwili is good at jokes, maybe should get some tips from VJ and RB on how to get Chinese media funding and fleets of “pursuit” police vehicles and motorbikes…
Tell Thornton to go to hell. All that we need is to put right people in right positions and improve on mgt.
Which hell when the man is already in a hell of a country called Zambia and if happens to leave them he is only returning to paradise where he came from.
Kambwili is so dull, this just shows how dull he is. He should know that the UK government will not support press houses that are not free.
Opposition are not allowed air time on those press houses. Then he comes and starts begging for something that will never happen. With ministers him Zambia is doomed
That picture, especially the face and the posture reminds one of a certain animal in the Congo forest.
On a serious note, the UK should not waste its tax-payers’ money on media houses that parrot the propaganda of a ruling party.
Was kambwili also created in Gods imagine?
Not at all, that’s what they call evolution of species. He left the Congo forest too soon and now he’s monkeying around as government minister.
Kambwili at it again? Foolishness at the highest level of government. Even after they give you AID money you come back begging for specific projects financing? Typical useless leader behavior by spending money on what you want (including chefs” palaces) and going out begging for what you need to develop the country. My my my 50 years after independence and still on your knees?