Thursday, March 28, 2024

Plans to have ZNBC regulated by IBA welcomed

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ZNBC Technical Director with ZANIS Director Patrick Lungu showing Information Minister Dora Siliya the inside of the newly acquired ZNBC Outside- Broadcasting Trucks during the handover tour.
ZNBC Technical Director with ZANIS Director Patrick Lungu
showing Information Minister Dora Siliya the inside of the newly
acquired ZNBC Outside- Broadcasting Trucks during the handover tour.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa Zambia has welcomed the pronouncements by newly appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Chanda Kasolo to have the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation regulated by the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

MISA Zambia Vice Chairperson Hyde Haguta says his Organisation welcomes this pronouncement and absolutely support it.

Mr. Haguta said MiSA Zambia welcomes the pronouncement of having the Independent Broadcasting Authority regulate the whole broadcasting industry including the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation which is currently regulated by the ZNBC Amendment Act of 2010.

He has however urged the ministry to give the IBA autonomy and power to carry out this role by addressing some lacunae in the Law by enhancing provisions in the IBA Act which will enable it to regulate the national public service broadcaster.

Additionally, Mr. Haguta said the IBA Act should be enhanced to further give it more autonomy by reinstating the appointments committee and including clauses in the IBA Act that will stipulate punitive measures against ZNBC and the ability for IBA to give ZNBC a license.

He said MiSA Zambia would like to see the broadcasting industry playing field leveled and this can only be done once the IBA is given the mandate to also regulate ZNBC.

Mr. Haguta also welcomed the pronouncement to have the media regulate itself as a way of promoting professionalism.

He said media Self-regulation will enable Practitioners to accept their share of responsibility of the quality of public discourse in the nation, while fully preserving their editorial autonomy and shaping it.

He said no law therefore should be enacted in line with media ethics.

Mr. Haguta said MISA welcomes Chanda Kasolo’s appointment as permanent Secretary and are looking forward to developing and growing the media industry together.

Earlier, Newly appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Chanda Kasolo says he will ensure that the National Broadcaster ZNBC is regulated by the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

And Mr. Kasolo has cautioned the media against publishing stories that are not well researched and are aimed at demeaning the presidency.

He said the madia like any other Citizen has a mandate to protect the Presidency adding that any attempts to divert from real issues will not be taken kindly.

Mr. Kasolo said he will support self regulation by the media but emphasised that failure by the media to do so will force government to regulate the industry.

And on ZNBC, Mr. Kasolo said he will ensure that the process of regulating ZNBC by the IBA is expedited saying it must be regulated like the private media.

He said it is mediocrity for ZNBC not to be regulated vy the Independent Broadcasting Authority when the Private media is being regulated.

Mr. Kasolo spoke to the media at his office today when former Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary Godfrey Malama handed over the office to him today.

3 COMMENTS

  1. ZNBC, DAILY MAIL, TIMES OF ZAMBIA, ALL THESE NO LONGER APPEAL TO ME, I DON’T EVEN REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I HAD THE URGE TO VIEW ZNBC OR TO READ THE TWO NEWSPAPERS HIGHLIGHTED ALL BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO A PF CADRE MOUTH PIECE. AND THAT HAS CAUSED THE CURRENT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY FOR THE TABLOIDS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME AS I ON THIS ISSUE, PROFESSIONALISM HAS BEEN THROWN OUTSIDE.

  2. But Zambia must be a joke. You mean DeadNBC is not regulated by IBA? So IBA is for who? The private media? How can such an unfair and illegal arrangement happen in a country with rights and laws? Who allowed such an anomaly?
    And this PS says media like any other Citizen has a mandate to protect the Presidency? Is he crazy? He is the wrong man for the post if he does not know that media checks the president for faults and things like state capture

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