Issiac Chipampe and MISA Chairperson, Ellen Mwale during World Press freedom
day.
In a statement, MISA Zambia vice Chairperson Hyde Haguta says MISA is concerned with the numerous reports of journalists’ lives being threatened by political party supporters, a traditional leader and the Office of the President.
Mr. Haguta says according to reports MISA has monitored, Luapula Community Radio has been receiving demands for copies of its programmes incessantly from the office of the President Special division.
He says at the same time, a named traditional leader who was publicly campaigning for a certain political party in 2016 has continued to intimidate sections of his community and media workers whom he perceives to be against the political party of his preference.
Mr. Haguta says MISA Zambia is further worried with reports indicating that a journalist from Muvi TV, Oscar Phiri was harassed in Mwense by suspected Patriotic Front party supporters on 4 June 2018 in the same area.
He adds that another sad report monitored by MISA Zambia is were suspected UPND cadres numbering over 20 attacked journalists in Chilanga who were headed for the totaling center a few minutes after midnight on 5th June, 2018.
He says the journalists who were fished out of the car by force were accused of having stolen votes; with one of the cadres suggesting that the journalists should be shot dead.
Mr. Haguta says MISA Zambia demands that these sad developments must stop henceforth.
Political party cadres dont attack journalists or the general public. Thugs with criminal minds do that and so should be treated as thugs. If you bring in political parties, you are silently justifying this
violence has no place in Zambia and I condemn it; let the police arrest all violent cadres including Kaizer
You are voiding to mention the guilty political party why ? The red berets were all over town threatening anyone suspected of supporting the other political party. My friend who works for a quarry mine was molested when he told these red attired thugs that he was from the copperbelt and doesn’t qualify to vote in the constituency.