The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is concerned with the fragile freedom that the State owned media is enjoying, which is not adequately protected by required legislation.
MISA Zambia Chairperson Daniel Sikazwe tells QFM News in a statement that while government says that the Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has been transformed into an institution that many people are proud of, MISA Zambia reiterates the need to reinstate the Appointments Committee to appoint board members for ZNBC.
Mr Sikazwe says this will transform ZNBC into a truly independent broadcaster and regulate the power of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting over ZNBC.
He said this is in light of the 2010 ZNBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority Amendment Acts that lack a critical component; the Appointments Committee.
He states that MISA Zambia is concerned with the current situation were an ineffective law regulating ZNBC and the lack of an independent broadcast regulator, which is supposed to be the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), is a source of concern which they hope the government will look seriously into.
Mr Sikazwe stresses that the IBA Act will ensure ZNBC plays its public service broadcaster role.
He says MISA Zambia is further concerned with the continued silence by government over the Access to Information (ATI) Bill which was previously called Freedom of Information (FOI).
He notes that the Bill was scheduled to be launched on 21st June 2012 and was moved to 26 June 2012.
Mr Sikazwe says government promised that it intends to enact the ATI Law by September this year and would be tabled in the current session of Parliament.
He says to MISA’s surprise, there is no information flow on this issue and are still wondering as to when the Bill will be launched and tabled before Parliament.
Mr Sikazwe points out that this is of grave concern to MISA Zambia because freedom of expression by itself is irrelevant and can only be meaningful with sufficient access to information.
QFM
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Zambian journalists are the worst and No1 enemy of themselves. The way they prostate and prostitute themselves to politicians for crumbs from the high table is disgusting? Talk of the last general elections! Journalist come probably in second position to lawyers (the profession that has been in the forefront of messing up this country).
I thought the constitution making process is still on going. Please submitt to the constitution.
who is this one now?
Ba LT: Please correctly spell check your posts … also correct the heading of this article because the word freedom is spelled as “Freedon”
Public media “freedon” not protected by legislation raises concern … thanks a trillion
I, danniel sikazwe know very well that if i was president my self i wouldnt LOSE GRIP on znbc for it is the government mouth piece.
Zambians must demand BOTH IBA AND ATI to be enacted within this year otherwise soon after the POWER gets to leaders heads, all these enactments and demands will be trashed……
Fred Mmembe will be arrested in 2016. No doubt.
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