INFORMATION and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga has warned UNZA Radio management that his Ministry will close the station if it continues to violate license provisions.
Mr Malupenga, who summoned UNZA Radio management yesterday, said his Ministry would withdraw the broadcast licence if the station continued to depart from its intended purposes.
According to a statement released by the Ministry’s Press and public relations unit, the Ministry was concerned with the radio station’s non-compliance with the provisions of the broadcast licence in its programming.
He told UNZA Radio management, led by acting Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Gerald Mwale, that the Ministry was concerned that the radio station had departed from its original mandate of being a teaching facility to a platform for advancing partisan interests.
Mr Malupenga said the Ministry would not watch UNZA Radio depart from the basis for which the licence was issued which was to serve as a teaching aid for media students.
“What is going on at UNZA Radio is against ethical requirements of good journalism. As far as we are concerned, UNZA Radio is a laboratory station for media training.
“As such, UNZA Radio’s primary interest is to the media students at the University and not the community at large,” he said.
He said if the station wanted to abandon its original plan to serve as a teaching tool for media students, management was free to apply for a community radio licence so that it could operate like any other community radio station.
Mr Malupenga said as a university station, UNZA Radio should lead by example by adhering to high professional and ethical standards of being factual, balanced, objective and fair in programming.
He said the station should not be involved in rumour mongering, maligning and defaming others and publishing unsubstantiated statements and claims.
“If you don’t want to adjust, we shall have no choice but to revoke your licence,” he said.
He also cautioned other private and community radio stations against overstepping their mandate in informing, educating and entertaining the public.
The Permanent Secretary said his ministry would take corrective measures against any radio station that violated provisions of their licences.
He said while Government supported freedom of the Press, it would not allow illegality to thrive in the media industry under the guise of freedom of information.
“Press freedom is equidistant to responsibility and professionalism on the part of the media. The media cannot have more of one and less of the other,” he said.
[Times of Zambia]
Yep, it is official, we have dictators in power……… i just hope UNZA students will not allow this to happen. I remember when i was a student that Sata would come to UNZA radio and insult Mwanawasa and RB and the station continued operating.
Malupenga should be the last person to preach about ethics, he is from the most unethical paper- The post. Tell the post to be ethical before telling others
The Post is a private News paper and can write whatever they like, they are in it for business. UNZA radio is a teaching laboratory and should show good example. The fact that it has been abused in the past does not mean that illegality should continue.
Mj. You are right. Malupenga is eing paid for being hypocritical.
Just a reminder Boss ; what happened to the Freedom of information Bill ?
Freedom of the press only for The Post Newspaper and not anyother. We have ourselves to blame.
True.
nedloleshayfey
PF Vuvuzelas your comments please
Chanda Chimba warned us but we did not listen. We went ahead and voted for Mugabe the second.
we were blinded by the hate we felt for mmd
Well, UNZA Radion has been biting more than it can chew and I have always commented on this. Here is its major problem, it has become a platform for anyone who wants to insult Government, especially UPND cadres. UNZA Radion hosts almost people of same political views, it will be Antonio Mwanza, Hon. Mweetwa, Mr. Ben Kapita, the the President himself HH will call in to harangue Government. The callers will start with Proud, the Clout, then the bitter man who stood in Kabwata and others and the language is not good at all. The host presenters also leave much to be desired in terms of their interview styles, guiding questions which will only yield one response. The Permanent Secretary Mr Amos Malupenga is being level headed and has just provided advice, look at how you run LSK Star!!
lets expect more than wat we are seeing..sata him self campaiined using the same radio station..how has it come to be bad today that he is now in power?alas alas alas
They still have an alternative.Let them apply to be a community radio.The guy is just stating what is in the license agreement and that is the law in short.If Sata used it as his political platform during his opposition days it doesn’t mean that other politicians should do the same.Remember two wrongs will never make it right.
Someone asking whether students would allow UNZA radio to be closed, this is where students get it wrong, sometimes you exagerrate your abilities. Government works through mechanisms and laws, if that licence is revoked, it is revoked, no one will be allowed to broadcast or they will do so at their own peril, you demonstrate, come on!!
Callers are Proud, Clout, Mr. Kasompe, Bo Imbua, etc and the theme is mere insults. Presenters even have the audacity to black out other callers with dissenting views to the insults on Government. Press freedom does not mean a radio station allowing only one political view being presented and with no regard to balanced views. It is simple, management should review the way Lusaka Satr is presented and probably even review the composition of presenters!!!
I love the way you stand up for the Gvt. If only you heard what they used to say when they were in the opposition, when their supporters used to insult the Gvt of the day, did they ever stand-up and oppose such things. Ciwamila ngalu indeed.
Mwanya tamwakesale.!!!! Try it today. Esheni ukwisala lelo ba PamaFi
He is right. UNZA radio is a teaching laboratory and should show good example. The fact that it has been abused in the past does not mean that illegality should continue. As for The Post, it is a private News paper and can write whatever they like, they are in it for business.
Do u mean Mr Sata abused it because he used to feature on a number of programs when he was in opposition
@Rock..the party in government when Sata was abusing it were weak and more inclined to serving their own personal interests by stealing from the masses and gave a deaf ear to the happenings at UNZA radio. Let those who can exercise control do it for the sake of good governance.The station is for educational purposes and an alternative has been laid out that these guys should apply for a community radio licence if they want.
Let the students have their own views, pliz people! It does not hurt at all. All the PF needs to do to counter such opposition is to work hard and let their actions speak instead of silencing the weak. I remember that one former MMD leader was challenged when he wwent to speak on a popular phone in program. The owners of the radio station were threatened with revocation of licence because they featured Chiluba supporting Sata or something in that line. DON’T BURN THE BRIDGES THAT YOU CROSS FOR YOU SHALL SEEK THEM ONE DAY. PF BE WISER THAN THE PARTIES BEFORE YOU
yaba…………………..this governments behavior lives s lot to be desired
In 1975 Ian Smith the then Prime Minister of Rhodesia correctly pointed out that Africans were not ready to run their countries. He said they would only be ready in a 100 years i.e 2075. Honestly why do African leaders fear criticism? To make it worse you elect Stu.pid cunts like Sata as President. With idi.iots like Malupenga , GBM, Sakeni etc in power who is to say Zambia is not ready for a revolution.
It is insults like those above by Livingstone which a reasonable media house will not accommodate, because it is a crime to insult the President. But this is what UNZA Radio has been encouraging, anyone who can propagate the gospel of CNP as advanced by HH, will be given a platform and you expect Government to be quiet??? Mark Simuwe as so called analyst sometimes makes me laugh. Please, when you not an expert in the field, invite resource persons and get fact right. Let anyone refute, the following callers will always find way at UNZA Radion as others struggle: Proud, Clout, Mbuwa, the incoherent Mr. Kasule, and others of the same line of thought. In short, UNZA radio has made itself a media wing for bitter UPND bent on insulting Government and is inadvertently advancing tribal hegemony
“UNZA Radio … is a teaching tool for media students”. What is meant by this? So what issues are supposed to be covered by the radio station ? Music, HIV-Aids, praising Sata and his PF but no views that are anti-PF. I now understand why UNZA produces very raw Mass Communications graduates.
I once lived in Zambia and somehow survived , I can tell you the radio stations and the TV itself are abysmal and embarrasing. They play same songs, and at times ‘Happy New Year’ , ‘Happy Christmas’ songs from October up to even March
The songs are old recycled, out of touch and just noisey
To hear that there is a UNZA radio I would say it falls under the same cartegory, good riddance if you ask me
I am going back to Zambia with my fiance who is going to see my relatives there and quiet frankly there is a large chunk of me that is filled with embarrasing some of it joy because the Zambia I left, well certainly lusaka had potholes no, restaurants, kid on the roads begging for food.
I dont want to be embarrased but I may have to bite the thumbs and hope
Thanks
you are an embarrassment to the whole world….mushota
You are just an ***** with lost identity Mushota, but one fact for sure, is that you will always be a Zambian, so the sooner you come to terms with that the better for your black ass!
Mushota if you were a dead Cockroach and there was absolutely nothing to eat and the only option I have is to eat you, I would skip and just die cause you would still be disgusting to even look at.
Imwe, this is clearly not the mushota person. This is some guy in Ukraine who has decided to post as Mushota. You can see from the flag. Its funny that this person has continued to do this, so you can’t take any of this seriously….its just entertainment at this point.
What are you complaining about guys? The matter is simple let UNZA re-apply for a community radio station and not a laboratry period. Law is law and no one is above the law. And when it is a comunity radio it will be treated in the same way other community radios are treated, for example paying tax etc. The other point is that the UNZA radio presenters and moderators are so biased. They cut who ever tries to come so strong on HH and UPND while they allow Clowd and friend Insulting PF for hours, is that what broadicating should be? Its really sad.
Mushota if you were a dead Cockroach and there was absolutely nothing to eat and the only option I have is to eat you, I would skip and just die cause you would still be disgusting to even look at.
…[email protected] party in government when Sata was abusing it were weak and more inclined to serving their own personal interests by stealing from the masses and gave a deaf ear to the happenings at UNZA radio. Let those who can exercise control do it for the sake of good governance.The station is for educational purposes and an alternative has been laid out that these guys should apply for a community radio licence if they want.period
# 16 and 17
Thats what we are talking about. I agree with you. These guys are just complaining even when the PS has said UNZA radio can change its operating license. MMD was busy stealing and too scared to implement the law. That’s why they even owed the Registrar of societies K400m! Let those who are not scared to work like PF do their jobs!
Yaba! Abena Amos! Who would have thought that after all the noises they were making in opposition, screaming their lungs out about freedom of speech, happily going to jail for it, they end up becoming worshipers of the same devil (greed) they were accusing others for?
TEKANYENIFYE FICILI FILECITIKA. BA UNZA YOU ANYNONMOUSLY VOTED FOR PF SO MPYANANGO APYANA NAMABALA. THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU VOTED FOR PF THEN YOU MUST ACCEPT WHATEVER COMES WITH PF. THOSE ARE THE FRUITS OF DONCHI KUBEBA. PA LAST NA UNZA BAKESALA ATI ILEPWAFYE INDALAMA.
WE ARE IN HOT SOUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If its broadcasting beyond its radius and they have neen warned b4,then its fine if its closed bcoz they are not following wat they had applied for.Even if it is a licence for selling grocery then one starts selling beer…definately a licence will be provokd.It is similar to this scanario.
Don’t try n gag the press n step on their freedom of information!! UNZA Radio is just a training ground n wat eva they say shouldnt b misconstrued! We voted 4 u on the premise that u wud do away with some of the silly stuff MMD used to do.Dont mek us think u r taking us bak 2 the old days
Sad as it may sound, the best solution for Zambia is to be colonised again!
Sadly, I think you a right! It could be and should be so good!!
Improve your education sector, especially the higher education. Find out more about research theses at post graduate level at your universities e.g. UNZA, Mulungushi. Oh no, it helps to say the least, it is very disappointing. In 2010, I went to your medical school a tiny rundown campus situated next to a dirty hospital. I requested to see a senior specialist in obstetrics and gynecology dept so that I could get a better insight about their research projects. Oh no please, the gentleman could not even explain anything related to what, here we call research projects in areas of human infectious diseases. Immediately, I ended my curiosity and I did not want to precede to ask him about his research top at that stage.
Zambia’s main university (UNZA). Your govt. is not doing anything to address the mess. Thus the rating of the university is at the bottom compared to other universities around the world or even in Africa. Any university is rated according to published research work not undergraduate qualifications. The formulation and implementation of workable economic policies for Zambians and by Zambians should be the work of your universities, but it is not so because your current leadership sees no relevance of research work. Most academics produced by UNZA are not recognised as academics with proper potential and this is how things are.
You guys you fail understand simple issues. The PS is very correct and has even advised UNZA radio to change its operating license but you can not see it. Thats why ka # 17 Mushota insults you (me included) all the time.
Monk Sq Analysis, you are not alone; I gave up on having any meaningful debate with most people who comment on this website. I don’t think that people read what is written down, they just see the headline and rush into making their ill conceived views known. I wish you luck!
I know when people look at Sata say things like ”oh,he made it!”But you know what?Behind that UGLY face of his, there an empty hole!
@Bwalya lets just sell the country and share the proceeds , bafitoole aba balaonaula ichalo.
I never thought I would live long enough to see Malupenga support the very tyranny he opposed for the better part of his professional life as a Journalist at the Post. It is tragic that he is nothing but a greedy, power hungry brute who deserves no ones respect , the chap is a tragic reminder of the beast in the hearts of Men. Lambs have finally become Lions!
I missed you Mushota.Your comments make me feel like what I feel seconds before I have an orgasm!
You are the one who can get Zambia out of this misery!
You yourself can be President of Zambia,Minister of Finance,Minister of Home Affairs,Vice President of Zambia…everything -and only then can that banana republic develop!
Come back to Africa the land of Black people-with big D.icks but small heads.That exaplins the continenent’s backwardness.
UNZA Radio has clearly been advancing UPND interests even before the elections, anyone can check their records. How may times did HH appear there and his co-horts. Even during the Pact debates, UNZA Radio was abused by Mweetwa and Kalusa that time insulting the PF President. Now, it is a platform for cadres like Proud, Clout, Kasope, Mbuwa-Mbuwa and others to daily scorn the President, who can allow that to continue. The other thing to check its excesses should be the Zambian Watchdog. The ZWD now doesnt even post any view dissenting to those of pro UPND cadres, they are constantly under moderation while insults are posted, we need SANITY!!
To ukwa 30
Fuseke!
Ati ”lets just sell the country and share the proceeds , bafitoole aba balaonaula ichalo.”
AM NOT A BUFFON LIKE YOU,I LOVE MY ZAMBIA AND I CAN’T EXCAHNGE IT FOR NOTHING!
YOU POOR SOUL WHO LOVE MONEY!!!
Mushota
According to a reserch at Harvad University, the above mentioned was found to be the source of dullness,backwardness,witchcraft -all the bad things which happen in the wolrd in the worst continent humanity has ever seen-Africa!
the problem is that zambians are dirty minded, no one is stopping the unza radio from being a rumour mongerer, but the licence it has as at now,doesnt allow it to do so.and for you Bwalya the current govt is a new baby,which is trying to put things straight therefore every licence shud work as intended….
THIS KIND OF GOVERNANCE IS ONLY COMMON IN DICTARTORIAL GOVTS. TIME IS TICKING 5 YEARS WILL BE OVER VERY SOON. WE SHALL NOT FORGET WHAT YOU ARE DOING. YOU HAVE PROMOTED BEMBA SUPERIORITY AND TRIBALISM, WE ARE WATCHING .
You *****s complaining about the radio station, do you really understand what Mr Malupenga is talking about? Let HH finance a community radio for those hungry unza hyenas and they will talk freely period.
Simple and straight forward issue. If UNZA want to broadcast beyond the compond, let them apply for a new licence kwamana – simple.
Simple English is so difficult to understand, some people are just thick and in love with criticism….. one would really wonder what is wrong with asking them to Stop their crap or apply for an appropriate licence….
Man these guys in UPND are just dull. They cant understand simple english. Law is law and no one is above the law..shaa.
Those were the same words that my uncle when he was a minister used against the post, Liyambai, Sky .fm, Q..fm and a lot more. Doesn’t that ring a bell in Amos’s ear. He was at the Post then with the Press Freedom Committee. Chiwamila galu ….
Chimbwi No Plan!!!
Since when did Malupenga become a Professional Ethics priest? The Post always refused to have govt leading the debate on ethics. Now Malupenga is preaching to everyone about ethics? UNZA has the right to freedom of speech and this should be protected by our constitution. No PS or Minister should interfere with this. The laws should protect UNZA Radio.
The Application for a broadcasting Licence is not supposed to be under the govt’s jurisdiction. It should be given to an independent body.
So now You want to inspect and dictate lecture notes? What qualifies to be in the media lab? Who are you to control what UNZA lecturers feel is appropriate academic work? Are they not being trained to be impartial Journalists and mass media communicators? You want the broadcast to only reach the parameters of UNZA? ubukopo ba Minister!…chiwamina galu kuluma mbuzi. Grow up and swallow your pride. Just do your job and leave UNZA Radio alone. You have the freedom of Information bill to work on, instead of wasting time and tax payers money on this.