Information and Media Minister Chushi Kasanda has implored the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) management to restore public confidence through professional reporting.
Ms Kasanda advises the ZNBC management to take advantage of the freedom of the media granted by the new dawn government to compete with other media houses in terms of content.
Speaking when she toured ZNBC studios in Kitwe today, the minister said the public institution must be on “ top of things” and should be ahead of the private media.
She however, warned the national broadcaster to however use the freedom of the media responsively to educate the public on various national issues.
” As you are aware, ZNBC has been condemned for a very long time, people had lost confidence in ZNBC and we are trying to regain that confidence in ZNBC.
“ And it’s important that we look at such things as the content that we are giving out to the people and with the new dawn government, people want to see the change.
“ We as the new dawn government has a policy to promote freedom of the media and with that freedom, we expect you to compete with everyone else we should not be behind as state media,” Ms Kasanda said.
The Minister has however assured the ZNBC management of government’s support.
She said her Ministry will look at the challenges that the institution is facing such as inadequate transport and staffing levels.
The minister also assured that under the New dawn government, there will be no suspension of broadcasting licenses or closure of media houses as was the case in the previous regime.
And the Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators (ZUBID) appealed to the minister to consider bringing back the Television Levy back to ZNBC to enhance cash flow to the national Broadcaster.
She also promised to look into the issue of staffers being engaged on one year contracts that are renewed every year and the general poor conditions of service for journalists in private media houses.
And ZNBC Director General Malolela Lusambo who accompanied the Minister said the national Broadcaster is making frantic effort to modernise the institution.
Mr. Lusambo further assured the Minister that ZNBC will continue working hard in carrying out its mandate and collaborating with the Ministry of Information.
Earlier, ZNBC Northern region Manager Oswald Mutale told the Minister that the regional office was working towards having its own Television channel.
Mr. Mutale said there is a consideration that TV two be left for the northern Region adding that the regional office has initiated innovative programmes such as the ‘Northern News’ which has so far won public support.
” The Northern News which only covers community news is enjoying public support as can be detected from the responses from members of the public,” Mr. Mutale said.
And Ms Kasanda assured that her ministry will look at the possibilities of bringing back the Television Levy back to ZNBC from the Independent Broadcasting Authority ( IBA ) to enhance cash flow to the national Broadcaster.
This was after leaders of ZUBID and the Ndola press club separately raised concerns on reduced revenue for the national broadcaster.
She also promised to look into the issue of staffers being engaged on one year contracts that are renewed every year and the general poor conditions of service for journalists in private media houses.
Earlier Ms Kasanda toured the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) offices in Ndola.
The Minister of Information and Media is on the Copperbelt on a familiarization tour of media houses.
First get rid of the old guard there whose mentality is still tuned to one party broadcasting otherwise the only change you will see is instead of PF everyday we will see upnd everyday. Bring new blood with fresh ideas.
ZNBC lost public confidence when they started being PF mouthpiece not giving the opposition equal coverage.
ZNBC top management was appointed by Edgar China Lungu, and still behave like “yes-man”. To be replaced by a team of young media savvy people who speed things up a bit
The fusion of old and new blood is necessary for the proper administration of ZNBC. Speaking as a journalist myself, I don’t subscribe to the notion being proposed by Razor ( No. 1) that ZNBC needs to get rid of the old guard in order to make it effective. Young blood needs experience and how do they get that experience without old guards around? Let people retire when they reach their retirement age so that there is continuity in an organisation. You can’t blame ZNBC for having operated like an extension of the PF government. This is because ZNBC serves the government of the day . In short, what I am saying is that ZNBC, like any other public media, is as good or as bad as the government under which it operates. We hope that there will be no interference from UPND at some later…
ZNBC serves the government of the day!!!!! If that is what ZNBC does it should stop now! The new government has reminded us that ZNBC is a Public Broadcaster not a State broadcaster. That is a late reminder by government on the role of a Public broadcaster as from 1991. A public broadcaster serves the public not the government of the day. This is why even the Ministry of information and Broadcasting wasn’t supposed to exist from 1991 because it implies legalization of State ownership of media. State ownership of media is government interference in freedom of speech in our democracy. Just having a Ministry of Information implies ZNBC, Times ZANIS are answerable to the minister.
stage in the administration of ZNBC, I am saying so because I am speaking from experience.
TV2 should be for northern region and TV3 for southern. Chapwa and no new stations. Ninshi fyanshi?
An information minister who cannot even speak English or articulate herself. These are women who hh is doing special favour for after laying on her back for him. Even me with my humble education can read simple speech and articulate myself. New dawn govt, more like new dull govt
She speaks like she is in kindergarten.
But honest speaking this woman needs to be replaced. She is a redundant , there is no way a whole minister can be given unreadable text, and she still forced herself to read unreadable- she failed her test. Full stop
Guys , text to be read out during a press conference, you come with your own cos u wrote it yourself or went over it three nights before already. So, there is no way as a minister u could read a random text from the unknown- she is jst incompetent. Guys the ministry of information has no minister
@we voted him out, you will continue seeing such appointments because you have an under 5 leader who has no experience of running any public institution or department. He is inexperienced and soon someone with presidential ambitions like hanthony habwalya will mislead him and will cause his downfall. Watch and learn
@we voted, she cannot be replaced because she is HHs side chick. Lobe
Its impossible. DeadNBC is used to being a lapdog so receiving instructions from politicians is in its blood. That is not something one shrugs off like it is an On-Off switch. DeadNBC will need new management. Expecting the old dogs that UPND has found to learn new tricks is hoping for a miracle. The slave mentality is difficult to erase
Its impossible. DeadNBC is used to being a lapdog so receiving instructions from politicians is in its blood. That is not something one shrugs off like it is an On-Off switch. DeadNBC will need new management. Expecting the old dogs that UPND has found to learn new tricks is hoping for a miracle. The slave mentality is difficult to erase.
“ We as the new dawn government has a policy to promote freedom of the media and with that freedom, we expect you to compete with everyone else we should not be behind as state media,”
As state media??? I thought she earlier told us that ZNBC is no longer State media but a Public Brodacaster???
The UPND are just acting like MMD who after removing Kaunda were so excited they were promising us heaven on earth with a promise of free news media. They quickly retracted the promise and became worse than UNIP in media oppression. I’m sure UPND will soon show us their true colors. For example why are they silent about the colonial law that puts as a criminal offense any presidential defamation? Repeal it now! Period
Haha ,ichi KZ is hypocrite “born again Christian” who sees and delves into bedroom matters of others with no proof.False accusations is a sin.
kanamaso kakubeka you are wrong, ZNBC was never established to serve the Government of the day, never, it is our morally bankrupt politicians like those in the criminal and gangster PF who reduced it to the level of being a vuvuzela for Pf. ZNBC is supposed to be a conduit of ideas, a platform were ideas compete for the sake of our Democracy and free speech as guaranteed by the Constitution. A larger part of Zambians don’t belong to political party’s. The day we are going to realize that it belongs to all of us and not ‘the Government of the day’ will be the beginning of good things in enhancing our Democracy. BBC belongs to the British Government but it is not a vuvuzela for prime minister Johnson and the conservatives. Actually there, you cant run a story about a political Party or…
How has ZNBC been made independent? Through mere pronouncements? You need to actually reaffirm it through written statutory processes and procedures; through cultural change; through training; through proper deeds and not just words. Let them not start every news headline as “President HH this or that”….
And stop the “warnings” please.
a political Party leader without getting a rebuttal from their opponents, never, don’t argue watch BBC and see for yourself. When DeadNBC becomes fair to all shades of opinions especially during elections then we will be on the right track and the Party in Government will get to know issues that are afflicting the citizens. One of the reasons Lungu lost is because he was out of touch with the realities on the ground and arrogant. Lastly, what is this nonsense called ‘working with Government of the day”. When the Government like that of the criminal and Gangster PF is stealing, corrupt and killing people you must work with them regardless, what rubbish? when ZNBC fundamentally changes, people will be running to them to pay TV levy, for now it is still a waste of time and money to…
AS LONG AS KAINZI XULU DIED A POLITICAL, HE REMAINS AN INCONSEQUENTIAL NONENTITY ON PLANET EARTH. HE HAS PROBLEMS CARRYING HIS 5-LITRE NOSE AROUND, ESPECIALLY DURING FLU DAYS!
“She however, warned the national broadcaster to however use the freedom of the media responsively to educate the public on various national issues.”
Mr President I dont think your minister understands what press freedom is…you need policy changes these ministers still have powers and they know it. Why should she warn???
Julia Chikamoneka(No. 4.1), I wish things on the ground were the way you look at them. All former ruling parties made similar pledges when they were in opposition but as soon as they got into power, things changed. Remember I am speaking from experience having worked under four presidents before I retired. I worked under KK, Chiluba, Mwanawasa and RB, PF tried to give the public media such freedom of the press during the first three months when they realised it couldn’t work . Thus UPND will make history if it sticks to its assurance that the public media will be allowed to operate professionally. Don’t blame the journalists who work for such institutions because they cannot be expected to burn the hand that feeds them.
This story carries the paragraph “The Minister of Information and Media is on the Copperbelt on a familiarization tour of media houses”
To say the truth it is actually supposed to say “The Minister of Information and Media is on the Copperbelt on an intimidation tour of media houses.