Government has condemned the harassment and beating of Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) personnel by opposition political party cadres, in Livingstone yesterday.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson Rev. Lt Gen. Ronnie Shikapwasha said this in a press statement made available to ZANIS this evening.
He said government has learned with disappointment that suspected cadres of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) Pact beat up a ZANIS driver and technician who were announcing the arrival of President Rupiah Banda in Livingstone.
Lt Gen. Shikapwasha has said government wishes to make it clear that announcing the arrival of the President, in any part of Zambia, is not an MMD party affair but a civic duty, which ZANIS is obliged to undertake.
“It is, therefore, unreasonable for the cadres to attack people who were performing a government duty, which the leadership of the UPND/PF Pact would also require if they came into government.” Lt Gen. Shikapwasha said.
He noted that government was extremely disappointed that the leadership of the UPND/PF Pact seems to be in support of the conduct of their cadres, as none of them has publicly condemned the incident, which saw ZANIS losing some equipment purchased with tax payers’ money.
“It is the wish of the Government to see those who have always jumped to criticise the government leadership, whenever media personnel have been attacked, to rise up to the occasion and condemn the UPND/PF pact on this unfortunate incident.” Lt Gen. Shikapwasha said.
He said the opposition has always tried to create the impression that irresponsible and unruly cadres are found in the MMD party and yet it is their cadres who can even go to the extent of attacking government workers, who are doing a job for which they have been employed.
Yesterday, ZANIS Livingstone technician, Gilbert Phiri and driver, Daniel Mulyata were attacked by suspected UPND/PF cadres armed with stones when they were announcing President Banda’s arrival in the tourist capital.
The two officers were only served after they sped off to the nearest Libuyu Police Station.The alleged cadres confiscated a microphone from the mobile van.
[ZANIS]
i think there is just too much drama in Zambia.
You should also be condeming the attacks on personel from other media bodies.. The attacks on these inocent people certainly are not welcome….
The beatings of Post journalists was ignored, what is special about ZANSI who were campaigning!
This is all drama. The ZANIS staff where not beaten as “they sped off to the nearest Libuyu Police Station.”
Why should these chaps be going around announcing RB’s arrival when there was an election going on.
Come on chaps, be serious.
Journalists are employed to publish stories not announce the arrival of the president in a campaign zone. Journalists are not campaign tools or public relations wing of the ruling party. These are quack journalists that George Kunda should be referring to. Even reading ZANIS stories is like reading stuff written by a grade two. They are ill trained and they lack expertise on the subjects they write on. They have been turned into cadres. ECZ has failed to stamp out this vice hence citizens have taken initiative. Police only protects MMD cadres and their sympathisers. We saw how police officers protected a group of members from brief case parties who went to protest at the British High commission. Imagine if it were for the opposition who did that, would have the police tolerated?
You are quick to condemn when it doesnt involve Post reporters shame. Infact you cant even tell whether the function is mmd’s or govt coz RB, shika,VP +mins are always flashing party symbols whenever I see them. They are confused they think its campaign everytime. Nowander ministers are sleepings when RB is addressing a rallies
You are quick to condemn when it doesnt involve Post reporters shame. Infact you cant even tell whether the function is mmd’s or govt coz RB, shika,VP +mins are always flashing party symbols whenever I see them. They are confused they think its campaign everytime. Nowander ministers are sleeping when RB is addressing rallies
This man shikapwasha is indeed a bu.f.o.o.n of the first order. Does he use his head before he opens his big mouth? How is iot possible for a bnig head like that to containi absolutely nothing?
Sorry RB, the people of Kasama don’t speak S.T.U.P.I.D. Try to communicate in that language in Chipata, they may be able to speak and under stand S.T.U.P.I.D there. GBM said he would have the last laugh when you compared him to a bag of mealie meal, but nobody thought his laughter would be heard so loudly and throughout the land like that!!!. Nobody could have believed that GBM would have more political sense than a president who lowers himself in that manner!! Now go back to Lusaka all of you a.s.s-lickers Mutati and Simbao and lick your wounds with your tails between your legs. And take your Mugala with you. And don’t forget Chitimukulu too!
You clown.. Who told you those were UPND-PF cadres?? who told you they belonged to any party?? Get it through your thicks heads.. THE PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY STRUGGLING AND ARE NOT HAPPY WITH AND DO NOT WANT TO HEAR OF OR FROM RB!!! get it?? THE PEOPLE OF TEH TOWNSHIP.. NOT CADRES PEOPLE.. Aka chelo chelo ulepita naka ka motoka alaB! alaB!Mpye Mpye Mpye….Iwe uleangala.? i everyone that doesn’t want to have anything to do with MMD is an opposition cadre then You know what ?? you just got confirmation of 10,000+ in kasama central, next Solwezi and 2011 you have 2million+ Cadres all over you…
#9 walasa .. this hard headedness being exhibited by MMD really runs your nerves and is draining.
I thought ZANIS is supposed to collect news to be distributed through Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail and ZNBC. If Shikapwasha wants it to be a mouthpiece for the party and its government, they should re-name it as “Government News and Information Services.” Otherwise it should be a neutral institution that is supposed to cover the ruling political party as well as opposition political parties. It doesn’t sound right that ZANIS can announce the arrival of President Banda and not the arrival of leaders of political parties at campaign rallies.
GRZ especially ba Hon Shikapwasha should have been the first person to condemn the attacks of the post staff at the Lusaka inter Airport.But because ni ba MMD people you are the firsat to speak that is where we are now not trusting you any more
number 5 who told you that those two were journalists ? you must find out firts before you issue such stupid remarks. dont you know that in zanis there are technicains who are resposible for doinf suhc work. get some sense in your big head before you make such remarks. zanis journalists are no different form post you stupid buffon!
iwe chi number 14, I guess it was one of your brothers or father maybe who was butchered by the vigilant citizens. You speak with emotions. Just debate professionally and dont speak like your brothers in the ruling party who have lost a better language and it has since cost them dearly in the just ended by-elections. You have to go and nurse your battered brothers. Be technicians or journalists they were not supposed to do what they did in a volatile area. They asked for it. I wont be surprissed to hear that it was your father who was given a good beating. That was another famous Mapatizya formular. Dont mess around with the intelligent citizens.
Why announce the arrival of the president in Libuyu, Malota and M’kwenya? Ala B was going to ZAF, it was not the business of all and sundry not connected to ZAF to know his presence in town. He is bringing back buUNIP. Livingstonians, you did well to give the i.d.i.o.t.a the well deserved treatment.
Tabwelanso.
Thank you number 16 wasosa mune. Shame chi number 5 the bootlicker. I think chi number 5 is UNIPist. Wako ni wako.