PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya says the harassment of radio mano journalists by cadres from his Party is justified and that any political party has the right to complain if they feel that they are not adequately covered by certain media houses.
Mr Bwalya said PF members were aggrieved with the manner in which Radio Mano was operating as it did not cover President Lungu during the the tour of Eastern and Muchinga Provinces.
He said people should remember that he was removed as station manager for radio Icengelo because the then ruling Party, the MMD was not happy with some of the things he was doing at the station.
“What I have been made to understand is that PF members were not happy with the news coverage on radio mano during the time the president was in eastern Province and Muchinga but mainly during time the President was in Muchinga.
“According to the PF members the President was not covered even single time on any one of the news bulletins and the stories that were being g covered on the news bulletins were anti-government or anti-PF. Now you may want to remember that I was radio Icengelo station manager for 8 years. As matter of fact I was removed from radio Icengelo because MMD was not happy with what I was doing at the station that a different matter altogether and don’t want to make it a subject of any story but I just wanted to remind you about that,” he said.
He added “The complaint on members of the PF in my view is genuine, genuine in the sense that every political party has a right to complain when they think that the news coverage is biased.”
He also said the media should be accountable.
“The media is also suppose to be accountable to the same people that they make accountable, however, there are reports which are not verified and I they are a subject of propaganda, that instructions were given to attack radio mano, to attack specific journalists at radio mano, the truth is that there was a banner at the airport and the President told the cadres to pull it down because he was not happy with it,” he said.
Mr Bwalya also said radio Mano is a community radio station which should stay away from partisan politics.
Meanwhile, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia chapter Chairperson Helen Mwale has warned all those involved in any acts aimed at intimidating the staff at Radio Mano station to immediately desist, reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.
Ms. Mwale said Radio Mano is within its operational right in line with its mandate of offering a platform for information and public debate.
She said if anything happens to anyone at Radio Mano, MISA Zambia will not hesitate to take stern action to censure all those involved especially that high ranking PF members are at the centre of this violation against the democratic freedom of the press to offer a platform for participatory governance.
Ms. Mwale said it is outrageous that some PF officials blatantly fortified cadres by saying a lawyer will be provided to take care of the cadres should there be anyone arrested for attacking Mangani on allegations that the station was offering coverage to the opposition political parties.
She stated that it is disappointing to receive such a report especially that barely a day after the head of state advised the Zambian people, including PF cadres to desist from acts of violence and the two Senior PF officials are now linked to the case of inciting violence against journalists at the Radio station.
Ms. Mwale has however advised PF provincial leaders in Kasama to appoint a spokesperson to be issuing statements on behalf of their political party instead of encouraging cadres to go to the radio stations to issue statements.
She said MISA is closely monitoring the situation on the ground as it develops at Radio Mano in Kasama, ISO FM, Breeze FM, Chikaya Radio and Kariba FM and will announce the course of action to be taken soon.
Ms. Mwale further noted that MISA is equally monitoring the cadres who seem to have gone on rampage country wide attacking and interfering with the operations of several media houses in the country with a view to coerce them to black out the opposition.
“We would like to warn all those involved to immediately desist from any acts aimed at intimidating the staff at the radio station which is within its right to operate in line with its mandate of offering a platform for information and public debate”
“MISA will not hesitate to take stern action to censure all those involved especially that high ranking party members are at the centre of this violation against the democratic freedom of the press to offer a platform for participatory governance” she said
And United party for National Development Hakainde Hichilema has released the following statement to the media on Radio Mano issue
Radio Mano Under Violent Threat from PF
Reports that the popular and privately-owned Radio Mano Community station in Kasama has been forced to shutdown following threats of being set ablaze by known PF thugs is further evidence of the increasing levels of lawlessness in the country.
Even worse, the abuse, intimidation, and threats made to Radio Mano journalists and the station reportedly happened in full view of President Edgar Lungu himself, as well as representatives of law enforcement agencies such as the police.
President Lungu saw and heard for himself the unruly behaviour of his PF thugs in Kasama who roughed up the Radio Mano journalists on arrival at Kasama Airport on Tuesday this week and threatened to set the station ablaze, but to date no decisive action has been taken and Radio Mano reporters have now abandoned the station for their safety.
The closure of the popular station and other atrocities against journalists are not only an affront to the fundamental rights of media freedoms and freedoms of expression, but it has also led to direct and indirect job losses in the country, already suffering from massive job losses and lack of employment opportunities. In addition, a large chunk of Northern Province has also suddenly been denied a vital tool of information needed for betterment of their lives.
The PF thugs have been on rampage since 2011 when the PF won elections and the situation has now escalated to include innocent journalists, political opponents and other citizens under Lungu’s leadership.
If they could dehumanise journalists and other opponents in full view of Lungu himself and threaten to set ablaze the radio station, we wonder who is safe in Zambia these days.
There is clearly a breakdown in law and order that points to Lungu’s lack of leadership, because in a normal situation the perpetrators and their known sponsors in the Kasama incident would have been arrested and charged for threatening violence and other offences.
This is what we have been saying in the UPND that there is serious selective application of the law in this country as ruling party cadres always go scot-free even when they have committed serious crimes, such as stripping off women in full view of the police.
As UPND, we have been subjects of abuse, derogatory remarks, hate speech and all sorts of provocation from PF leadership using public media institutions, but we have never resorted to thuggery, and in instances where we have felt aggrieved, we have sought justice through the courts of law.
Meanwhile Lungu’s calls to end violence, impunity and thuggery in the country have clearly never been genuine but just public relations stunts meant to hoodwink the Zambian people as no action or justice for the victims has followed.
We call on all law-abiding citizens to demand justice in the country. One way to achieve this is by removing the PF Government in August.
Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President
The sooner August comes for these morons to leave the better
Radio Mano as a private entity, is at liberty to chose who it covers and when to cover individual groupings and have no obligation to justify or satisfy and political party especially the one which does not respect the rights of Zambians. How can you respect such a party which does not condemn the stripping of a young female adult in public? A party which keeps on telling lies that there is no shortage of an essential commodity like maize meal in the country? A party which does not tolerate any Zambian with different opinons on some key issues that affects them? A party full of ….
The great bag of maize (GBM) has oiled Mano radio. The station is just following orders of their master.
Micheal Chilufya Sata was a UNIP cadre who used to beat people. That is why he got the name KING COBRA. He is the genesis of PF violence. Chiluba and Mwanawasa tamed him a bit but in opposition he revived himself and used violence and intimidation. Ba Lungu is a beneficiary of this caderism. He was trained by Sata to hound Kabimba out of PF and to intimidate Sampa and Guy Scott. This tactic works in Zambia because of unemployment and street vending and control of markets and government contracts. Zambia needs to get back on the right political ting track by getting rid of PF and bringing in UPND.
Who is leaving? BOMA ni BOMA YOU wil die oposing ifwe kuteka come august
LUNGU IS A CURSED PRESIDENT. ALL THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE HAVE REJECTED HIS UNGODLY LEADERSHIP. MY ONLY TIMELY ADVICE I CAN GIVE TO LUNGU IS FOR HIM TO RESIGN BEFORE THE AUGUST ELECTIONS SO AS TO SERVE HIS FACE FROM PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT DUE TO DISMAL ELECTION PERFORMANCE. LET PF GO INTO THESE ELECTIONS WITH A DIFFERENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, NOT LUNGU, BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT LUNGU IS A FAILURE.
Sounds like the word ‘harassment’ is not understood by this guy or has evolved in to ‘do things my way’ as his interpretation. It involves behaviours of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behaviour which disturbs or upsets and is NEVER justifiable. It is after all an offense…
The worst thing you would do in Politics is elect a religious/former Pastor Father to Public Office…they are the worst pretenders in the world like this moron!!
The freedom of expression include peaceful demostration. I don’t think there is anything wrong with someone displaying a poster at radio mano. They didn’t injure anyone. This is perfectly allowed in a democracy.
Do you think the Police would allow the opposition to do the same at Times and ZNBC offices?
You perfectly demostrated at lusaka courts when you were demanding justice Lombe Chibesekunda to resign. Nobody complained because in a democracy it is allowed.
Kant Neva, peaceful demos are ok but threatenung to burn down a radio station is another thing. Who the hell are those cadres to be making deceisions in the country? Do you ever see the opposition protest when they are not covered by ZNBC. TIMES OF ZAMBIA AND DAILY MAIL?I n the first instance they would not be given a permit, we are sick of demented excommunicated priests and kaponyas running the affairs of the country.
This Frank is sick beyond any reasonable doubt. In the meantime watch-out for another intriguing story after August 11, 2016 in one of the leading Zambian private News paper entitled Chagwa Agwa part II
PF is dead coz SATA was buried with it ……VIVA SAMPA VIVA
”Father” Frank Bwalya,the failed Catholic priest,is not aware that there can be no democracy without a free media.Bwalya is encouraging thuggery to frighten journalists so that they toe the PF line all the time.
Zambia needs freedom of the media to inform and educate the public.
Ba Frank Bwalya, instead of encouraging PF cadres to be violent against Radio Mano and their journalists, you should show leadership by sitting down with the Station Manager at Radio Mano and let your complaint known, doing so in a peaceful way. Has Mr Frank Bwalya still have any traits of a christian remaining in him, if he can publicly endorse violence?
You already have ZNBC TV/ Radio, Times of Zambia, Daily Mail and Daily Nation, etc, with nationwide coverage, what more do you want from a Kasama based Community Radio station?
Ok, I am now sign-writing protest banners for DeadNBC, Daily False Mail and Sad Times of Zambia….Elo inkofwe cimo ati we can not protest, wrongful assembly, fimo fimo…smh!
Nkaya naimwe boss.
The freedom of expression is not exclusively reserved to people with access to radio station or newspaper like journalists but also to someone in kalingalinga whose only venue to express himself is writing on a piece of carton box and displaying it along Alick Nkhata road.
@ Cunt Neva
Democracy is when same rule applies EQUALLY to all.
BUT AS HH YOU NOT THE BEST OPTION ZAMBIA WOULD USE TO REPLACE ECL. UPND HAS BEEN THE MOST VIOLENT OPPOSITION PARTY IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.
STOP TAKING UP SPACE YOU NINCOMPOOP. WE NCHUSHI
Are u crazy?
Bwalya should never be allowed to go sct free.I challenge all those out there aggrieved with this political pr0stitute to make him account for the idi0cy he is currently displaying.Comrades our work is made easier by the fact that Bwalya is dull.And I hope you catholics out there are proud of your pr0stitute.
NO WE ARE NOT BUT VERY HAPPY HE HAS LEFT THE FLOCK BECAUSE HE IS THE SON OF SATAN.
This is the caliber of people in PF. Why don’t they demonstrate at ZNBC which just sings praises for PF using tax payers money. It is not a requirement for any radio station to cover Lungu, HH or whoever. It depends on the editorial policy. The public media on the other hand have to cover everyone because we pay money to them in form of TV levy and other taxes. These people are real savages just by reading what they say, you can tell. If leaders sound like this, what more the street or Lusaka Times cadre?
You are perfectly right but I can also peacefully say No to your reporting through a peaceful demostration like the one at radio mano. Any person has right to protest peacefully if felt offended.
Quite right we don’t want triibal radio stations in Zambia. Pictures look like a peaceful protest with placards
Go do what you do best and eat PF d!!ck a$$hole. No one here takes you seriously anyway but you are fun though 🙂
LT should document and safeguard every utterance made concerning violence because now if unchecked, it may reach international intervention standards and every word on volence uttered beforehand will be very useful in the investigations talking through experience. Such irresponsible utterances by Bwalya and deliberate negligence by those in power is necessary when eventually things get out of hand and surely now I can read mixed signals. Lets give peace the first priority, life is precious.
Iwe ka Wrungu please tell your fellow clueless,visionless,useless,brainless,hopeless and your drunkard members to behave.
Dead Znbc you have turned it into a pfool media house and no one is complaining especialy that its a public media but why the hell should you allow them to protest against the private institution which you dont even fund. Walitupa sana iwe k.o.l.w.e
MISA Zambia is the most useless organisation in Zambia especially under the leadership of Helen Mwale. She has lamentably failed to caution the Post newspapers for writing false hoods and twisting stories…In Turkey the government closed down one newspaper recently and MISA Zambia and its sponsors in Europe are still mute despite this country being European…
Turkey European? UNEDUCATED 1MBECILE has spoken?
Check where is the capital of Turkey you UNEDUCATED 1MBECILE
@ Short memory you are indeed dull you should argue with facts Turkey is in Europe that’s a problem with UPND cadres they are identified by their insults… opposing everything.Can someone please educate this illiterate for me…
I normally refrain from talking about men of the cloth but Bwalya is really dissapointing. It looks like he doesnt even know what democracy is about. Any politician who belongs to the ruling party should be PROTECTING the values of democracy. Journalists and journalism are a central core of democracy. They represent freedom of speech but there you are supporting the harrassment of powerless journalists
When a victim becomes king RUN!!! This guy bore the brunt of harassment and should have learned how to protect the weak in society as well as those who are not saying good things about him. But alas – he learned only the techniques out of his victimhood. This guy was running or managing some broadcast outfit and he is the last person to really be saying things like this! When will we Zambians stop electing or supporting untreated victims to positions of power???
He says that any party has got the right complain if they are not being fairly covered. Now the PF knows how it feels if a party is not getting fair coverage. If other parties do the same and protest against ZNBC, they will then start crying that creating violence. Surely the PF is a party of total thugs. We can’t wait for this madness to stop after 11 August….
When they poured shake shake on him he cried World over. Now they are beating others he is rejoicing. Chiwamila Galu ku puma mbuzi. Can’t wait for August.
Iwe ka HH, don’t have people in your tribal party to issue statements? Everything its you, kwena ulimbwa zoona.
These criminals you have planted in media houses will have themselves to blame. So let them be objective otherwise they should face the consequences of being untruthful by spreading malice.
Most of these so called journalists don’t even know how to write believe it or not and they should not think they are above the law!
Frank Bwalya is an “LSOS”- a Lying Sack Of Shet.
Ye mwandi! Radio Mano has no Mano for sure!! How can you claim your Freedom to Speech while blocking the freedom of another??
UPND…get a grip, of course Patriots will complain. UPND keep this daily drama and by voting day people will be so sick of you!!
Sometimes we vote to keep people in and sometimes we vote to get people out. PF be warned that at the rate that you are going and with the desperation that you are demonstrating, you will end up with protest votes against you. Not only that but we will remember you and serve up a cold plate of revenge when the time comes. Bwalya, Kambili and other high and mighty remember that those that kill by the sword…. 99 days for the thieves and one day for the just. All your cadres will scamper and you will have nothing but your balls to protect you. They had better be big
These retards are aware that Radio Mano is a private radio station, right? This means they reserve the right to cover whosoever they wish. Where was the radio station supposed to get the funds to follow the president’s trip to Eastern and Muchinga provinces? If the man was in Kasama, may be, but even then, they still reserves the right to cover whoever they wish. This is a private radio station!
And for those of you nincompoops claiming that these Pfools had the right to demand removal of journalists at a private radio station, they do not! If anyone is aggrieved with the reporting, they have the option of switching to another station. This is a private radio station which is not receiving funds from the state, so they reserve to do as they wish. This is how capitalism works. Vote with your ears, and stop listening to Radio Mano. If enough people stop listening, the station will go down. But for PF to hold a demo, clearly the radio station is doing something Kasama residents like, since the PF wants to stifle this voice through intimidation rather than stopping to listen to the station
Ba Frank don’t cheat people, it’s not mmd who removed you from radio chengelo. It was the Bishop who removed you because you were becoming too political (partisan) on a church radio station. Faza Frank leka ubufi.
Time time. The best day will be when you stand in court. Milandu si wola. There is no statute of limitations on your nonsense. We will see where your kadas will be on that day.
Now its no longer politics, it life or death. Heads up: We will not die.
LT why are u not publishing my comments?
I’m not sure who will get the prize for being the most ignorant….Frank Bwalya or Chishimba Kambwili. Frank has gone into overdrive. .he really wants the prize
You are wrong. They are competing for the title of “World 1mbecile of the Century”
Iam sure the retards think Radio Mano and its staff are part of ZNBC. Like the Kitwe Studios of ZNBC. Lol.
This Bwalya should be caged or thrown in the sea like Bin Laden. Can’t wait to see the back of this political prostitute. I just hope Satan can give him cancer of the throat. This guy called Hijad Chicken Bwalya was a serious wasted sperm
Mr Bwalya frank will finish PF; therefore, he is a danger to both democracy and security of our country plus his contribution to PF loss in August, 2016 maybe huge. Zambians abhor violence and if not careful PF can dig its own grave. It is not too late to desist from violence of any kind.
its a pitty to see how certain individuals would prefer harrassing of someone for their own benefits.for your information the other party is never televised on znbc…equity must take charge or this country dosn’t qualify to be democratic.
aka ka frank bwalya. the boy could not even make a good priest. he failed lamentably. the boy vomits rot when ever he talks. this boy is a devil and no wonder why he was flashed out from priestly life. full of lies, hate, greed, selfishness, the list goes on and on. I thank God I never received Holy Communion from his dirty and devilish hands and not even to listen his devilish sermons. frank is now sheeting and urinating in his pants because his time is coming to an end. no wonder sounding aggressive. 146 days more for you to yap yo rot iwe ka frank.
Awe sure, ba FB, it’s sad that a man of God can be in the fore front propagating violence, it’s true you were removed from Radio Icengelo by your Bishop because of being political, that’s why about a week ago you were saying @ na Lesa limo limo filamushupako! kaya ngamupepa the same Yahweh of the Bible, be reminded that an average Zambian detastes violence, people are living under economic difficulty conditions, then mubikepo ne fikoti na panga awe sure, God is on our side. So what was the purpose of national prayer and fasting, was it to ask God to be subjected to violence? we expect the government of the day to be solving our problems, alas economic problems are not a priority it seems!