The Patriotic Front has condemned the recently reported disturbances that took place at Radio Maria in Chipata by alleged PF sympathisers and have called on the Police to investigate and ensure media practitioners and media houses do not operate under fear of attack in the course of duty.The PF leadership has urged its members to welcome constructive criticism and has also urged the opposition to avoid insults ,inflammatory language and fabricating false stories.
Below is the Full Press release
The Patriotic Front strongly condemns the recently reported disturbances that took place at Radio Maria in Chipata by alleged PF sympathisers and we make a strong call to the Police to investigate and ensure media practitioners and media houses do not operate under fear of attack in the course of duty.
The Party leadership of the PF is extremely saddened by this development and is calling on all genuine PF members to desist from such conduct because they are alien to the media freedoms we committed to uphold. In making this call, the leadership of the Party wishes to advise as follows:
1. PF MEMBERS SHOULD WELCOME CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, BUT IGNORE PROVOCATION
Violence in any form is inexcusable and diametrically opposed to what Patriotic Front stands for. The President of the Party who is also our Head of State His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has been unequivocally consistent in his counsel to PF members to resist all violent acts and to never retaliate to any provocation no matter how grievous or tempting the provocation may be.
All members of the Party are therefore under strict instructions to remain unmoved and exercise restraint even under extreme provocation. Anyone who is a genuine and well-meaning member of Patriotic Front will therefore not go against the core values of the party and the clear guidance of our President
We wish to emphasise that we are neither allergic to criticism nor are exempt from it and we can always rebut in more civil ways. Like John F. Kennedy once said: _“Without debate, without criticism no administration and no country can succeed and no republic can survive”_.
Criticism – especially of the constructive type only helps us to improve. No official or member of the PF should therefore think the Party is allergic to criticism. PF does not exist for censorship of the news. We do not exist to stifle dissenting or divergent views, nor are we wired to cover up our mistakes or to withhold from the press and the public the facts they deserve to know. We are configured and ready for public scrutiny; that is in our basic design.
We are ready to be held accountable and we are ready to be asked questions; and yes we have refused to respond to provocative opposition malice with violence.
2. OUR ASSURANCE TO THE MEDIA FRATERNITY
It is no coincidence that the Media industry has grown exponentially since the Patriotic Front formed government in 2011. The phenomenal growth of the media industry and the unprecedented accelerated promotion of journalism under the tenure of PF is a direct result of the Party placing a high value on Media houses as partners in development. The Media fraternity and the journalism fraternity can thus rest assured of a continued enabling environment for them to grow and thrive.
3. A CALL TO OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE OPPOSITION TO REFRAIN FROM INSULTS, INFLAMMATORY LANGUAGE AND FAKE NEWS
As we call for restraint within PF, we equally continue our call to our competitors to refrain from insults, fabricating fake news and using any demeaning and inflammatory language, as it only robs us all of an opportunity for constructive engagement and civility. We are at the end of the day all humans, and Zambians with children, grandchildren and an entire nation looking up to us for exemplary conduct in the ruling party and opposition alike.
We are aware of some of our colleagues in the opposition who sadly seek to abuse any media platform they are accorded with to insult and malign the President and other ruling party officials all in the name of freedom of expression; thereby contaminating the freedom of expression and abusing media freedoms.
In conclusion, we are calling for politics of civility, and the law to take its course wherever political violence rears its ugly head.
Issued by:
Sunday Chilufya Chanda
PF Media Director
Party Headquarters
Lusaka
Do not end at expressing ‘sadness’. Go ahead and send your police to arrest the ring leaders and prosecute them. That’s when we will take you seriously
PF are taking the country to a VERY dark place. If we are not careful, we will see civil unrest in this country. Things are spiralling out of control. Cadres think they can do anything they please because they have the support of cadres in government.
I repeat, if we are not careful we will see armed conflict. PF think that they can perpetrate all this violence and people will not react.
What about murderer suspect Lusambo, what kind of graffiti Sunday going to write?
Angry cadres vs an original angry cadre. Meanwhile its a long way to go.
1. OPENING REMARKS.
The sentiments expressed by the interviewed or interviewee in this case are purely his opinionsand by no way represent the position of this Radio station.
2. DURING THE INTERVIEW
In the spirit where a balance of views is respected and reserved, Radio stations, TV stations alike should try balance the panel so a direct response issued to the once making wild allegations.
In the absence thereof, the moderator should go; The person you are mentioning is not here to defend themselves; Kindly refrain from using such language or something of the sort.
Objectivity. Responsibility. Civil.
I have listened to heated interviews and debates both local and…
…international.
3. If radio and TV stations will afford to be careless in their Conduct and Security, let them INSURE their businesses.
The political situation in Zambia does not appear normal to me with recurrent notorious violent cadreism. E.g. in the case of a political figure with presidential ambitions going on radio making wild allegations about Zaffico sale. He was spared but just warned and cautioned.
Interesting readings, PF with CK at the helm – a jerabo. A cadre.
4. Reports from Kasama indicate that Father Bwalya angered some PF cadres by his statements while on a live radio program, forcing the cadres to storm Radio Mano studio and demanding for his immediate arrest. CK was youth leader.
5. August 3, 2010 While in opposition
In Kitwe, suspected PF cadres one Sunday…
… stormed Radio Icengelo with the view of attacking three former Patriotic Front (PF) Secretaries General (Mulakulima)when they featured on the radio station that Sunday.
6.On 10 November 2001, about fifty ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) cadres invaded the Catholic-owned Radio Icengelo in Kitwe, disrupting a live interview with an opposition party leader and his associate, who were beaten, together with a Radio Icengelo staff member. Meanwhile, ZIMA Chairman Masautso Phiri has condemned the attack on the station, saying it violated Sata’s right to freedom of expression and interfered with the station’s operations. He appealed to the ruling MMD to condemn the cadres involved in the violent incidents and take disciplinary action.
7. The list endless folks. Just look at…
7. The list is endless folks. Just look at this quote…
Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili and Anthony Kasolo last night stormed the public broadcaster and ordered the removal of video statements made by PF chairperson Inonge Wina and her members numbering 27.
“How could you lead a story with suspended officials? Prominence should be given to the Acting President.”
And Acting President Guy Scott called Director of Programs Kenneth Maduma and threatened him with dismissal.
Kambwili, who ordered that reporters remove the Inonge Wina statement, refused to leave until the 21:00 hrs news was aired.
“I know where the allegiance of this newsroom. I will replace all of you. You are a stupid bunch. We reached a quorum but you decided to cover that woman and her bunch of criminals…
… when they are suspended,” he said and end of quote. Holier than thou indeed folks. Look at how he is cryng, playing victim. CK is a criminal.
What is the antidote to this mess?
Diarrhea mouth treating.
Comments….
PF stop these thugs.
It’s too much…..
PF cadres can not listen to any other official other than the President, ECL himself. Zambia Police can now not investigate and arrest PF cadres who commit public crimes for fear of dismissals.The cadres always act under the instigation of senior PF officials.So political violence is institutionalised in PF. The cadres know that the President supports violence otherwise they should have stopped a long time ago.The only way is for opposition political parties to defend themselves against PF violence with force.The so called “insults and inflammatory language” by the opposition is not an honest justification for PF violence because PF officials use even more provocative language against the opposition as was witnessed in Roan recently. The chief of foul language in Zambian politics,GBM,is…
Something missing here: arresting the culprits.
Nothing less shall be deemed satisfactory by the majority citizens of Zambia, the real voters as opposed to hungry nshima seeking cadres. Since when did calling the president’s statement on mulungushi textiles a bluff become an insult?
Arrests can start with that female PF cadre cum youth leader who came on news, she can tell you her accomplices.
Surprisingly not even the statement by Kampyongo mentions arrests. Maybe we wait to hear from the supreme leader of PF. Short of that everything that PF and its leaders say has been zeroed and PF is a violent cadre party until proven otherwise. The only difference with trib.al upnd cadres is that trib.al upnd adds an extra dimension of trib.al politics with Trib.al Hacks.
..trib.al upnd is NO…
Iwe P.F cadre aka U.P.N.D, stop pretending here, you are part & parcel of problem of P.F directed violence.
As we speak you probably have a Panga stashed under your bed.
JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE KIDDING??
Who is Zambolina?
The inmates are running the asylum.
Kikikiki you have made my day….lol
…..is currently hosted by the PF and is on a rampage in Northern Province insulting HH and other UPND officials.
Why is he drawing boundaries to criticism. Criticism in its natural self is inflammatory. What’s this guy talking about?
The very language being used by Sata’s students was the same language he used on LPM and RB. How has it become insults today.??
If this was the case during Mwanawasa and RB then PF would have not been in government because MMD caders wouldn’t have allowed Sata to campaign.
I don’t agree with u baChanda did Chishimba k follow the raid down procedure to insult the Republican president.To start with Chishimba started the all issue if he conducted himself very well nothing was going to happen of that nature.why did the police not arrest ck for insulting the president.Hence no investigation must be carried on innocent of cadres
Just shut up stup!d Chanda, the devil himself trying to justify stup!dity….. Why cant your drunk worst presidnt in world come and condemn this or he also behaves the same… probably the one who actually sent them there . What a tosser of a president…0 IQ
For once give back the police there powers and let the police deal with the cadres you’ve failed to control.
Bemba man
No it is getting interesting now,they have failed to run the party the same way they have failed to run the nation, so some of us cant wait for their “khama”which is upon them as we speak…lol
These P.F, 1di0t2 are happy with what’s being perpetuated by their unclean Goons.
Always trying to pull the wool over our eyes, at@se!?
Ba red lips Monday Chanda, the day is fast approaching when that big bookosi of yours will be enjoyed by inmates in Mukobeko Maximum!
If P.F are really serious about stopping this nonsense, they would act as promptly as they did when they wrongly fired the Sesheke Cops, for trying to bring some normality to Zambian politics.
However we all know this has the blessing of Ba Jona Chakolwa, & his diminutive side kick (Chimp)yongo.
These guys will one day end up being transported from Prison to Court, & back like cattle, look at the once all powerful Omar Bashir, & his minions.
The PF have brought the moral flag down to knee high. Nobody endowed with a bit of common sense can take the PF seriously. How do you explain the appointment of Mutale Mwanza as a good will ambassador? Anyway those are the PF standards, it’s too much to expect anything sensible from you
This is actually a veiled denial on the part of PF. Instead of PF Cadres, they are now calling them PF Sympathisers!!! PF is not a noble Project to attract sympathisers. PF is a lawless and ruthless Organisation that is protected by overzealous cadres inspired by what PF stands for. The PF has merely created an enabling environment in which ANYONE can break thee law provided they are on the side of PF.
So, please rightly call them PF Cadres not Sympathizers.
PF expresses sadness at reported disturbance at Radio Mano heading bt Lusaka times. Nut there is no radio Mano in Chipata!!!
I guess it must be radio maria.
Each and every radio station it’s always disturbances. What kind of police are we having. Have they been intimidated by what happened to their colleagues in sesheke or are they just incompetent.
It is simple.
Police must protect media houses so that only authorised personnel and authorised guests are allowed in. That is the first thing to do.
Secondly, the media houses must stop anyone who uses provocation, falsehoods and insulting language on their shows and programmes. It is not failure on their part for the controller of programmes to curtail a programme, live or prerecorded.
This should be a given. It is like the a e i o u, 1 2 3, or a b c d of broadcasting.
Indeed if my Brothers and Sisters in PF think this Country is there’s then it’s unfortunate. In a democracy you allow divergent views. I fail to understand what people are calling insults. If someone calls you a Thief and activities point to that, can you be offended to the point of beating people? the President must do something otherwise when time come for PF to be out of power, he will remain alone sweating. Tame PF Cardres please.