State Distances Ambassador Visit From ZNBC DG’s Exit

The government has provided details surrounding the exit of Berry Lwando as Director General of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), dismissing claims that his departure was linked to the recent visit by United States Ambassador Michael Gonzales.

Information Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana said the decision regarding Lwando’s position followed administrative processes involving the ZNBC board and should not be connected to diplomatic engagements or political pressure.

Kawana stated that the Ministry of Information had no role in dismissing Lwando and stressed that the ZNBC board retains authority over executive decisions affecting senior management. He explained that the government had sought to maintain institutional distance from operational decisions at the public broadcaster to avoid political interference.

The clarification follows public speculation after Ambassador Gonzales visited ZNBC headquarters in Lusaka, sparking claims from opposition figures and commentators that the Director General had been removed as a consequence of diplomatic interactions or external influence.

Kawana rejected those assertions, saying there was no causal link between the ambassador’s visit and Lwando’s departure. He described the claims as misleading and urged the public to rely on verified information rather than political narratives.

He added that if the government had intended to act against Lwando for the ambassador’s visit, the decision would have been communicated transparently through official channels rather than through speculation. He also noted that it was unreasonable to suggest that a diplomatic courtesy call could trigger administrative sanctions at a state institution.

Kawana said Ambassador Gonzales has maintained a professional relationship with Zambia and that diplomatic engagements should not be interpreted as interference in domestic media governance. He noted that ZNBC, as a public broadcaster, occupies an important space in national discourse and must balance public accountability with editorial independence.

Addressing concerns raised by political stakeholders, Kawana stated that ZNBC continues to play a central role in Zambia’s information ecosystem, particularly in public education and democratic engagement. He said the broadcaster’s leadership transition should not be mischaracterised as evidence of foreign influence or political coercion.

The Permanent Secretary also referenced public comments made by Citizen First party officials, including Mark Simuuwe and Chungu, who had linked Lwando’s exit to diplomatic developments. Kawana challenged those claims, saying they lacked factual basis and risked undermining public confidence in state institutions.

He questioned why critics were quick to assume wrongdoing rather than seeking confirmation from official records or the ZNBC board. He added that the ambassador’s visit had been planned within normal diplomatic protocols and did not constitute a breach of sovereignty or institutional integrity.

Kawana further stated that Lwando himself would have been in a position to clarify the circumstances of his departure if he believed misinformation was being circulated. He said the absence of such clarification from Lwando suggested there was no factual support for the circulating allegations.

He also said the government remained open to constructive scrutiny but urged political actors to refrain from spreading claims that could damage Zambia’s diplomatic relations or erode trust in public institutions.

ZNBC, as Zambia’s national broadcaster, has frequently been the subject of political debate, particularly during election cycles, when questions about editorial independence and public accountability intensify. The government maintains that institutional reforms at ZNBC are aimed at strengthening professionalism and governance rather than serving political interests.

Kawana reiterated that the Ministry of Information continues to support ZNBC’s mandate to deliver balanced, credible, and inclusive content while respecting legal frameworks governing public broadcasting.

The matter has generated public discussion on the broader issue of political influence in state media, with stakeholders calling for transparency in leadership changes and clearer communication from governing bodies.

Government officials insist that Lwando’s departure should be understood within the context of institutional governance rather than political controversy and have encouraged the public to separate factual developments from speculative commentary.