By: Kelvin Chisanga.
The media is there to promote informative and educative messages. The media is a harbinger of hope in promoting healthy debate among communities.
It is saddening that, today, if a media has a different view from those in power, they chase or close them through the revenue house.
We are not promoting plurality and diversified scope in media circles. The political discourse in the nation is worrying.
The political governance has a twisted model of tolerance and they are not having the openness to diverse political opinions of others.
It has been witnessed that political intervention has taken deep root in the press freedom by closing down another voice of the people.
Once we overcome our paranoia and narrow-mindedness and reach a higher level of political maturity, perhaps in our political conversations with others, we can finally have the courage and integrity to echo the words of the French Revolution-era philosopher, Voltaire: “I don’t agree with what you are saying, but I will defend to my death your right to say it.”
In our view as NDC, the closure of prime tv is an affront to media freedom. The closure of this popular medium of expression is ostensibly political and a direct assault on press freedom. The closure of independent media entities is synonymous with dictatorial regimes. It is clear that the pf regime will do anything to gag and muzzle the independent press in the country.
As we approach 2021, the Lungu regime will be more brutal and lethal. Lungu and his cohorts might have succeeded in closing prime tv, but, they certainly have no control to control the mindsets of the 17 million Zambians.
The decision to shut prime TV was done without taking into consideration the job openings that the station had created.
As NDC, we are quite dismayed that most media houses in the country are reluctant to stand side by side with prime tv.
Apart from solidarity messages, we expected all media houses, public and independent to speak out and push for protests on the closure of prime tv.
To, therefore, postulate that media bodies representing journalists have become impotent is thus not an understatement.
We urge media bodies such as MISA to do an introspection. The Misa of yesteryear has become the exact opposite. We wonder who Misa is representing.
The quietness of MISA on this national issue us suspicious. To the PF regime, you have succeeded in closing prime TV, but, your days are numbered.
The Author is member the Opposition National Democratic Congress Party(NDC)’s policy Monitoring and Research Burea. NDC is led by Former Information and Broadcasting Minister Chishimba Kambwili
You grasshopper have you not been following the news and events to see why that political party hiding under media umbrella was banned? Go to iba and ask to see the decision which will tell you why that decision was made and what options the respondents have. Do not just be quick to open that mouth of yours. Kz
Solidalite with a biased shawa, count me off on the said 17million people who are supportin that usesless prime tv
Kaizar whatever you are, it’s either power has gotten to your nuts to be speaking on every item like a rabid dog…. Your time is coming to an end soon 2021 tyou you better run fast enough…. Otherwise if people catch you…you will know that every that every dog has its day
I do not believe PTV was closed because someone wanted to silence anyone. It is because of unpatriotic tendencies shown by the people in_charge.
People should stop complaining and bringing up legal cases why prime tv should not be banned……
Nothing to do with law matters to lungu , he is just showing how he can do as he pleases , lawful or unlawful, he does not care. Only brainwashing Zambians to give him some semblance of being voted into power matters to him.
Nothing and no one in Zambia can stop lungu trashing anything he sees as a threat.
Only the western world can put lungu in check because PF relies on donner aid to survive, if Zambians don’t start international media protests , the world will think you happy being oppressed by lungu
Hi Kelvin.
Here’s the same, what happened to Prime TV is not just political and criminal. Remember that MCS banned all GRZ offices from buying The Daily Nation newspaper? I do, and it exposed what PF was about aside from MCS’ poor character.
Like this Kaizer Zulu, a lot of people are id!ots that will try to justify anything even when it’s clearly in black and white.
Manyozo banda, 2021 or 2030 kaizer
zulu will be the same,this is the man who defends the integrit of this nation while some of you speak ill of our nation,mind you he wins elections so what makes you think he will lose in 2021? Come next year u will be cryin batubida, batubida(they have stolen) .
Ask those analysts on PRIME TV. They have contributed to the demise of the tv Station.
The question you ask yourself is, is PTV professional in their conduct? Is PTV capable of setting fire on this nation? Don’t just wake up and put on utumaglassi and ask useless questions. “Media is a Panacea of Democratic Hope to the People: Why Close Prime TV?”. The day Zambia will go the Rwanda way of 1994 is the day you will realize your ubuwelewele
A Democratic society is characterized with a Governing body that has and respects the functioning of the various semi-autonomous Governing Institutions. In case of Zambia and indeed any democratic Country, these institutions are enshrined in the Constitution. The head of Government ensures the functioning of these institutions and should appoint competent officials whose appointments are ratified by Parliament.
Take for example football. This is one of the most popular sports of the world and almost all ethnicities of the world play the game and affiliates to FIFA, the governing body. FIFA is an institution that governs the administration, promotion, and the business of the game. Due to the complex nature of this, FIFA has laid down rules both for the control of individual games and for…
FIFA has laid down rules both for the control of individual games and for administration. Flouting of these statutes calls for laid down strict and appropriate punishment regardless of who commits the offense. In a soccer match for example exist strict guidelines and rules for fair play so that the right winner wins. Punishments include verbal and non-verbal warnings yellow cards and red cards with suspensions.
in a functioning government, we have various statutory bodies that help the Government to Govern a Country.
Coming back to the Media, there are specific rules and guidelines that all media houses affiliate to even as they seek to be granted with an operating license. These rules, or controls are specific and are meant to, for example, safeguard the interest of the public who are…
These rules, or controls are specific and are meant to, for example, safeguard the interest of the public who are the main consumers of the information disseminated by the various types of media. Due to the sensitive nature of media and due to the coverage, this institution of Governance is particularly important for the maintenance of peace and stability of any Country. Its not business as usual at all. There are no sacred cows at law and the lack of implementation or enforcement of the statutes would amount to gross negligence like that which led to the Kigali Genocide.
I have not written this to judge anyone, but I thought this could help someone self-introspect.
Written by
Eng. Kennedy Chama
We need young men and women to be knowledgeable and be up to date with current affairs and not just wake up and use the same old and outdated stance of singing the song of the importance of the media. Everyone knows that the media is important that is why Govt through the IBA has been registering as many radio and tv stations throughout the country. The question young man, is, the behaviour of the media proprietor in the name of Gerald Shawa. Your effort is so futile that it has just added to the noise surrounding the prime tv saga. Next time read widely young man before writing an outdated article.
What is the meaning of media is a panacea….?