The Law Association of Zambia has strongly condemned recent attack on media freedom in the country.
LAZ President George Chisanga in a statement made available to QFM News says the recent attacks on Breeze FM following its featuring of opposition political leaders airing dissenting political views and the physical attacks on journalists from some private media perceived to be critical of government have no place in the country’s plural democracy.
He adds that the recent raids on the Post Newspaper by the Zambia Revenue Authority purportedly to investigate suspicions of tax evasion were clearly unwarranted and disproportionate.
Mr Chisanga says such conduct by a government agency fuels the already existing perception that the government is using such agencies to harass and silence the independent media.
He adds that the conduct of the ZRA is also an affront to the rule of law considering that the matter between ZRA and the Post newspaper is before the courts of law.
Mr. Chisanga states that the attacks on journalists and other media houses is a demonstration of the fact that rights and freedoms are under serious threat, particularly in the run up to the 2016 general elections.
He stresses that the attacks are evidence that there is very little government commitment to freedom of information,democracy and human rights.
Mr. Chisanga has since called on the new Inspector General of Police to demonstrate his resolve to ensure that the police start working to protect citizens.
Comment:pf will b buried in less than a month from now.
LAZ, it takes two to tango, an organization such as yours should offer balanced criticism. Advise The Past News to report objectively, to avoid twisting stories, and to maintain a good measure of integrity. Start by reminding Mmembe that what is happening today by party cadres was worse before under Kabimba and the late who was under Mmembe’s spell. The violent cadres were bred by Kabimba himself, the now presidential candidate of the Past News party aka Rainbow party. Mmembe looked the other way round and yet at that time cadres were law and very violent. But today under Lungu the cadres are much less violent, in fact they are intimidatory than violent. when
Mmembe is barely scratched by the same cadres and he goes crying like a baby. What sort of hypocrisy is that Mr LAZ Chisanga?
Terrible – Good comment. LAZ should reprimand both sides. If Zambians were not naturally peaceful people, Zambian journalists would have by now succeeded to plunge our country into chaos. These are journalists who literally write stories before they go to “investigate” because the editor already has a position on an issue.
Mr Chisanaga you have got it wrong.Iam very disappointed with your comments.
Each and every organisation being NGO,MEDIA, should meet tax obligation and no organisation including the post is exempted from meeting tax obligations.
Let us be fair the way we critisize the govt.