Chairperson
Hellen Mwale
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has condemned the police command in Eastern Province for interfering with the operations of radio stations in the province by directing them to seek police clearance whenever they intend to host high profile guests on radio.
MISA has obtained a letter in which the order was made by Eastern Province Police Commissioner, Alex Chilufya, to various radio stations in Chipata.
We wish to inform the Police command that such a directive amounts to an unreasonable and unconstitutional limitation of freedom of expression and media freedom as guaranteed in article 20 of the constitution.
We would also like to take this opportunity to educate the Police command on the role of the Independent Broadcasting Authority, which is the bonafide regulator of broadcasting houses in Zambia and has authority to preside over the conduct of broadcasters, including radio stations in Chipata where the order was issued.
As the radio programmes are held in-doors and only broadcast to the masses, there is no need for police clearance as it is within the right of the radio stations to host any guest, provided they do not contravene the ethical standards as agreed with the IBA, which take into consideration even other provisions such as the electoral code of conduct.
We therefore call on the Police to immediately desist from interfering in the operations of media houses and instead be proactive enough to thwart the increasing attacks on media houses such as that on Radio Breeze FM during a live broadcast when they hosted Rainbow Party leader Wynter Kabimba. Another incident is where known PF cadres urinated in the mouth of a Post Newspaper journalist Peter Sukwa while his counterpart Kelvin Phiri of Feel Free Radio was badly assaulted.. Other attacks include those on Radio Icengelo in Kitwe, Sun FM in Ndola and Chikaya Lundazi.
We urge all media houses and journalists in Chipata that received the directive from Commissioner Chilufya not to be intimidated and to continue providing space for participatory democracy without any fear or favour.
As we get closer to the August 11 elections, it is important for all stakeholders adhere to democratic election principles and to desist from violence if the country is to hold free and fair elections.
They came for the jews and we didnt voice out and they came to us and slaughted our clan.pf is trying the mugabe formula.
Serious issues! Where on earth has this ever happened; not even in Zim, I think? Police; just listen to the politicians, and interven when the politicians start talking heresy!
Zambians out number you must we resort to bombing your tuma police compounds to express ourselves. Continue suppressing people will go underground. Even noble peace prize winner Mandela had to resort to terrorism when the brutality was excessive. We know you are trying to force state of emergency so that there are no elections. When that happens you better send your wives and children very far because their blood will fill your homes and the streets your properties will burn. This is not 1960 anyone can make a bomb mwanya bana ba imbwaaa imwe. I dare you to continue. You think Mushala was the only one willing to fight oppression and die for his principles. This is not Zimbabwe. I dont even have to have a party or following
It’s the PF thugs who disrupt political interviews at radio/television stations and Zambia Police commissioners know this.
The PF leadership knows when and where opposition leaders are to be interviewed and they are able to organize unemployed young men to attack,and Zambia Police look the other way.
sort them out as we roll on..time is coming..yes together we can..remove pf
ZP IG Kakoma Kanganja my dear own relative, I wish you can emulate how our tribal cousin former IG Ephraim Mateyo left the police with integrity. It is better to be fired for upholding professionalism than presiding over undemocratic operations and brutality. Are you not proud of Late Dr. Joshua Kanganja, Brenda Muntemba, Musa Mwenye, Mutembo Nchito and Judge Mumba Malila who never bended from their principles?
Blind PF cadres here will find something positive to say about such primitive behaviour.
The source of some of these problems comes from your constitution. What do you expect from an all politically appointed police service?. Police in Zambia operates the same way as police in Zimbabwe. Public institutions like police, judicially and electoral commission of Zambia are all appointed by head of executive. This means that your democracy is not supported by the current constitution. Democracy on paper continue fighting until God comes?.
THE Real Problem Is That All Of You Zambians are just watching because you think this doesn’t affect you. When it will affect you everyone else will be watching