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The petition against the re-election of Edgar Lungu has again been adjourned to tomorrow 10:00 Hours after it emerged that the petitioners (the UPND) did not serve their summons to the Attorney General Likando Kalaluka who joined the matter yesterday.
Mr Kalaluka has been joined to the presidential petition in which the UPND has challenged the election of President Lungu and his running mate Inonge Wina in the Constitutional Court.
UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and his vice-president for administration Geoffrey Bwalya have petitioned the Constitutional Court claiming that Mr Lungu and Mrs Wina were allegedly not validly elected as President and Vice-President of Zambia in the August 11 general elections.
Mr Kalaluka applied to be joined to the matter because Mr Hichilema and Mr Mwamba had made allegations against the public media, the Zambia Air Force and the Zambia Police Service, which are all institutions of the State.
The matter which came up for hearing this afternoon has since been adjourned to tomorrow 10:00 Hours.
Meanwhile, PF lawyers are tomorrow expected to file an application against the UPND.
Luwingu District Commissioner Patrick Chanda has advised civil servants to desist from engaging in active politics and concentrate on the work they were employed for.
Mr. Chanda sounded the warning following the suspension of his District Administrative Officer for allegedly involving himself in active politics.
He said the suspension of his District Administrative Officer should be a lesson to other civil servants in the area.
Mr. Chanda said this when he was addressing officers from at the district administration and officers from Zambia News and Information Services in his office yesterday.
He said government will not forgive any officer engaging in active politics because civil servants were employed to implement government policies.
He further advises civil servants wanting to actively engage in politics to resign from the civil service and join politics.
Mr. Chanda also extended his appeal to the general public to refrain from posting commentaries on social media that might promote disunity in the country.
The District Commissioner also appealed to the traditional leaders to help unite the people in their chiefdoms in bid to maintain peace and stability the country has enjoyed for many years.
He has since thanked the people of Luwingu district for maintaining peace and stability.
But suspended Luwingu Administrative Officer, Deodatus Munsungwe said he did not attend a meeting that was addressed by opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr. Munsungwe said he just passed near the place where Mr. Hichilema’s meeting was taking place from.
Opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) polling agents are appealing to the party president Edith Nawakwi to consider paying them their allowances they worked for during the August 11, 2016 general elections.
Representing the polling agents, FDD youth chairperson Joe Muyunda said 40 polling agents were deployed to monitor the election exercise in Kansenje, Kafue, Shikoswe and Matanda wards where the party had participated at ward levels.
In a walk in interview with ZANIS in Kafue today, Mr. Muyunda said the party president is owing the polling agents K1000 each, totalling to K40, 000.
He wondered why the FDD polling agents were the only ones that are not yet paid among other agents who monitored the elections.
And when contacted for a comment, FDD president Edith Nawakwi said her party will not pay the polling agents because they did not meet the target as earlier agreed.
Ms. Nawakwi said there was an agreement that the 10 agents at polling stations would only be paid their monitoring allowances if the party got at least 400 votes at each of the stations.
She further said the polling agents can only be paid if their election results form G-12 reflects about 400 votes from each ward.
Media Release for SIWI World Water Week (28 Aug – 2 Sep)
Drilling for water is a fraught business in Africa – like being a pirate without a treasure map. In many areas, the rock is old – some of the oldest on our planet. This cracked, shattered stone that is blasted by desert heat or soaked in tropical rains with often only a thin covering of rust-stained soil, can hold substantial amounts of water, but a driller needs to know where to look and the skill to develop a water source that will last. A metre or two can make the difference between a dry hole and a well that could supply a village or a farm for a lifetime.
The good news is that in many parts of Africa, there is more groundwater available close to most areas where it is needed and the potential to store more with land use or technology changes. Currently, groundwater is an underused natural resource in much of Africa – where water insecurity is rife and drought is currently threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in southern and eastern Africa. For once, there may even be a rare silver lining to climate change – as it appears that in some environments groundwater recharge happens more readily when rainfall intensity is high[1]. Thus understanding and managing Africa’s aquifers should be central to poverty alleviation and climate resilience strategies.
A challenge up until now has been the lack of easily available groundwater information:
“When you drill a borehole in the UK, there are incredibly detailed maps and borehole logs [registered with the British Geological Survey(BGS)] to help you decide where to drill,” said Sean Furey, a water and sanitation specialist at Skat told The Guardian[2]. “Even in countries where a similar organisation exists, that sort of data isn’t available because NGOs, the private sector or even governments who commission boreholes aren’t aware that they need to submit their drilling logs.”
In May, the Africa Groundwater Atlas was launched and is a major step forward in addressing this information gap.
The British Geological Survey has developed the Atlas in partnership with the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) Burdon Groundwater Network for Developing Countries, and with more than 50 collaborating groundwater experts across Africa.
For each of 51 African countries, the Africa Groundwater Atlas provides new overview geology and hydrogeology maps and summaries of the key geological environments and aquifers in each country. There are sections on groundwater status, use and management, including groundwater monitoring, with up to date information on the national organisations involved in groundwater development and management. There is supporting material on geographical setting, climate, surface water, soil and land cover, with accompanying maps; and finally, there are references and links to more detailed information for those wishing to find out more.
Accompanying pages highlight important issues related to African groundwater, such as recharge, groundwater development techniques and transboundary aquifers; with links to sources of further information.
Also available is the Africa Groundwater Literature Archive, which enables users to search (geographically and by keyword) and freely access thousands of articles, reports and other documents about African groundwater.
The Africa Groundwater Atlas is still being developed. Some of the pages still have limited information, and for many others there may be more details to be added or updates to be made – and there is still a need for country-level collection of borehole logs. However, if you are working in Africa on rural or urban water supply, water resources, environmental protection, agriculture, mining or forestry, you should bookmark the Atlas in your web browser today.
We can’t tell you if X marks the spot of the hidden treasure you are looking for – but at least now you have a map.
The Africa Groundwater Atlas was developed as part of the UPGro programme– Unlocking the Potential of Groundwater for the Poor (https://upgro.org). UPGro is funded by UK Aid; the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); and the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Knowledge Broker: Skat Foundation, in partnership with the Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN)www.rural-water-supply.net
The Grand Coalition on the campaign for a people driven constitution in Zambia has called for a fresh stand-alone national referendum on the bill of rights to be held before the 2021 general elections.
ZANIS reports that Grand Coalition Chairperson Sarah Longwe said the coalition is concerned with the failed recent referendum that was held alongside the 2016 general elections.
The Grand Coalition said it is imperative that a fresh referendum is held before the 2021 general elections in order to enhance the civic rights of Zambians.
Ms. Longwe said that the national referendum is an important non-partisan issue which should be held separately as opposed to the way it was recently handled.
Addressing a press briefing in Lusaka today, Ms Longwe said that the expanded bill of rights should not be thrown away but revisited to conclude the constitution reform process.
Ms. Longwe has since urged government to quickly constitute an expert team to address some of the provisions which are not clear in the expanded bill of rights especially those negatively affecting women, children and people with disabilities.
She stated that government should also provide a clear roadmap for the holding of an all-inclusive fresh national referendum with a legal framework that will protect the content of the document.
Ms. Longwe further said there will be need for both government and the civil society to start sensitizing and educating the general citizenry on the provisions of the referendum act and the bill of rights.
She said the grand coalition has been in full support of the national referendum but was opposed to holding it alongside the 2016 general elections fearing that it may not achieve the intended purpose due to lack of consensus and inadequate sensitisation.
IT IS wishful thinking for any individual to suggest that the President must step down because there is an election petition in court, as there is nowhere in the Zambian Constitution where it says a Head of State must step down whenever there is a petition, says Professor Patrick Mvunga, SC.
The renowned Constitutional Lawyer said there was no such provision in the Constitution that demands for the Republican President to step down from his office because there was a petition against his elections after winning elections in the first round.
Responding to Hakainde Hichilema who claimed President Lungu had staged a coup d’etat, Prof Mvunga said it was not the first time that Zambian courts were dealing with a presidential petition, and there has never been at any point a President or even a Member of Parliament stepped down because of such court action.
Professor Mvunga explained that unless there was nullification at the full conclusion of such court proceedings, can anybody step down, and not at the filing of a petition challenging their election.
“I am not aware of when a President has stepped down or even an MP because of a petition against their election into office.
“If it is wishful thinking of an individual, that is fine but to think that it is actually in the law, I am not aware of any authority in the Constitution that says that,” he said.
He explained that unless there was nullification, the person declared as the winner of an election remains in office pending the court’s conclusion of such matters. Professor Mvunga was commenting on contentions by the opposition UNPD losing presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema that the President-elect, Mr Lungu, was illegally in office after the filing in of a petition challenging his election.
Mr Hichilema accused the Head of State of taking advantage of the power vested in him as commander-in-chief of the armed forces such that he bulldozed himself to holding onto power when he should have step down and hand-over the presidency to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Matibini.
An uncomfortable scenario has emerged in the operations of the media in Zambia. A free and independent Media is the fourth arm of the State and democracy can only thrive when this right is unhinged.
Whatever the underlying reasons, when independent media that offers divergent views and an alternative source of news to those of government owned media are targeted for closure, the very essence of democracy is destroyed.
The closure of Muvi TV and Komboni radio station is uncalled for and undermines freedom of speech and information. The government or aggrieved individuals can seek legal recourse on specific libel or defamation cases without shutting down entire media houses.
Rights, however, come with responsibilities. Our media practitioners, both in the public and private media, need to display utmost professionalism. For instance, the Times of Zambia headline on the 22nd of August was alarmist and tantamount to insight even more political unrest, not withstanding that the situation cited is regrettable and requires national attention.
The pen is mightier than the sword. Through the media, we can win or lose the peace.
Now that the elections are over and the dust from Dununa reverse has somewhat settled, Lungu and his PF followers are basking in August Christmas, while HH and his followers are still in disarray still piecing together how the Grinch (ECZ), a grouchy, watermelon looking like creature supposedly stole Christmas from HH. Let’s hope and pray that come December 25, Santa Claus will return everything HH has been claiming to have lost and will be the guest of honor at the Lungu’s Christmas dinner.
Political pundits say that in 2015 is when should have won the elections to a new comer Lungu, who campaigned only for 21 days. This August 11, HH’s loss is really tough, and it is understandable that HH is upset after such a shocking loss.
Politics like in sports, winning depends on executing the best strategy that gives a candidate or a team the best chance to vanquish the opponent. In my hey days as a boy in Mufulira, it was always frustrating losing soccer to a team you are convinced is an inferior competitor to you. Now as a grown man, I know better that the outcome of sports is not dictated by who has stellar statistics on paper. If that were the case no one would beat Brazil in soccer and it would be useless to have world cup competition. That’s why they say, ‘you have to actually play the game to decide the winner’ irrespective of the statistics on paper.
To win sports or politics, you not only need to show up, you need to execute your strategy when it matters. On August 11, UPND as the challenger did not deliver the proverbial Chiluba knockout punch. Thus, HH coming off as a whining (loser) politician, is not exactly the kind of temperament a nation looks for in an ideal candidate aspiring for the office of POZA (president of Zambia).
I will leave the ‘rigging’ allegations to the Cons-Court to decide. However, in my view there are 3 (three) collosal blunders HH made that diminished his chances of celebrating Christmas in August. Let us look at these 3 (three) executive blunders/decisions by HH:
Two Vice Presidents: Dr. Canisius Banda and GBM
There has never been in the history of politics anywhere under the sun where a political party had two sitting vice presidents. Anywhere in the world except for HH, the choice for vice president is a landmark in presidential campaigns and should serve as a strategy in deciding the outcome of the elections. For presidential candidate HH with no political experience, the choice of making GBM as VP along with VP Dr. Banda in hindsight was the first executive blunder HH made. Not even in the Catholic church will you find 2 popes at the same time lest you cause a schism.
Unless you are running a corporate board room, the choice of 2 VPs was not only mysterious but left most of us confused. What followed leading to the choosing of the running mate, simply fueled unnecessary political innuendos and speculation which raised more questions about HH than his 2 VPs. Who was consulted about this decision? What criteria drove HH to make such a decision?
The choice of 2 VPs is regarded by many pundits as the greatest mystery in Zambian political history. Not by me, as I am so accustomed to political mysteries that nothing surprises me anymore. If how you make executive political decisions is a symbol of how you will govern, how can you run a complicated entity like a government if can’t even get the basic VP party structure right?
GBM as Running Mate
GBM brought a lot of grassroots strategies that were missing in UPND. I for one understand the logic of making GBM leader of operations. UPND needed a man like GBM to expand the party and attract new members. Anywhere in politics, the choice of running mate should meet three criteria; popularity with party base, favorability with political pundits and voters alike. Running mate should appeal to all voters (including opposition voters), and should have less or zero baggage.
GBM’s political antics as a former PF are well known. In the game of spades, GBM is what we call a wild card, meaning his influence is unpredictable and can go either way causing you to win or lose. It’s either you love GBM or you hate him. The net effect of the GBM factor was zero. He energized UPND voters, but also his constant barrage of recorded audios of insults (Ka-chakolowa, bafika**) against President Lungu simply energized the PF base. As we can see there is no single elected UPND MP in Northern or Luapula as a result of the GBM factor.
It begs the same questions; who was consulted? How transparent within UPND inner circle was this vetting process? Was Dr. Canisius Banda even considered as a potential choice? How does HH feel/thinks of GBM’s audios disrespecting the sitting president? All these are important questions that ultimately raises more questions about political judgment, political intuition and style of executive decision making by HH.
The Gang of 4: Sampa, Mumba, Scott and M. Sata
The UPND message of ‘change and forward’ is something that resonated with voters who were disillusioned with PF. The choice couldn’t be clearer between same PF excuses (load-shedding) and HH’s 10-point plan problem solving. HH as a successful business man running for POZA to change the country and not to profit from it. Why would anyone have a problem with that? I too was sold out on the theme of change. I don’t care, let’s just try something new.
When the Gang of 4 joined HH’s campaign they brought many minuses than pluses. They were PF defectors looking for political jobs from HH. The campaign theme remained that of ‘change and forward’ but in reality the Gang of 4 took over UPND and instead of selling the message of ‘change and forward’ they were pursuing politics of personal vendetta against Lungu. The Gang of 4 had no prior relationship with HH. Again, HH as the leader of UPND, one wonders how carefully he took the decision to let the Gang of 4 be the standard bearer of his campaign message. In my view the Gang of 4 had no business in UPND. They left PF because of bitterness and it is their bitterness that erased and contaminated UPND’s theme of ‘change and forward’. How can a party sell the message of ‘change and forward’ by dunana-ling reverse with recycled politicians? The net effect was zero; its either they energized UPND or PF bases.
I do personally believe that rigging allegations should be fully investigated and a report should be issued for pundits to review and critic. But in politics as in sports, having a plan to deal with crooked referees or elections officials is also part of the winning strategy. These 3 aforementioned stunning political decisions, raised more questions about HH’s political instincts and ability to make executive decisions, than answer questions about HH’s acceptability and likability as POZA. Ultimately voters felt comfortable with Lungu retaining the title of POZA, while creating a narrative of politics of bitterness and personal vendetta has no place in Zambia. Lungu’s winning strategy was right, too, which makes him and his PF followers smart – not the Grinch that stole August Christmas from HH.
Mr. Nsambila Mbolela, is a native of Mufulira-Copper-Belt, currently based in the USA, a founding member of Zambia Institute of Transparency and Accountability (ZITA). ZITA is a Zambian Think Tank non-profit organization based in Canada-Zambia, whose mission is to promote public debate and awareness on issues of good governance, democracy and free and fair market economy in Zambia and Africa as whole. The author is a regular political and economic contributor to this organization. http://www.zitazambia.com/
Lusaka’s BIGGEST Music and Beer Festival is back with another fantastic line up of international and local artists and DJ’s.
Africa’s biggest pop star Toya Delazy and The Princess of House, Bucie will be performing along side Slap D, Macky 2, Drimz, The X-plosion band and K.R.Y.T.I.C.
We also have Lusaka’s top DJ’s Bizzy Wizzy, Zein BassFlex, DJ Links and DJ Hussein plus Rock Fm DJ’s Psycho Tash and Sebastien Dutch.
The event organised by Rock Fm, will be held at Nasdec Sports Complex from 1st October to 2nd October .
Tickets are available from all Shoprite stores at the Computicket booth.
pre-sale tickets for K100 only as it will be K150 on the day of the event.
Kabulonga Girls Headmistress, Mrs Hilda Mudenda and SABMiller Zambia representative, Allan Bwalya, with some of the pupils that attended the talk on the dangers of underage drinking sponsored by SABMiller.
SABMiller Zambia recently held an awareness programme on the dangers of underage drinking and reminded young people to avoid engaging in such vices.
The future of the nation rests with the youth, hence the importance of ensuring they do not consume alcohol at a young age, said the group, which encompasses Zambian Breweries and National Breweries, during a recent visit to Lusaka’s Kabulonga Girls Secondary School as part of its nationwide campaign against underage drinking.
Speaking during school assembly, SABMiller Zambia representative, Allan Bwalya said: “Half of Zambia’s population is under the age of 16. We believe that, as a beer manufacturer, we have a responsibility to sensitize our young people on the adverse effects of underage drinking.”
The school’s Headmistress, Mrs Hilda Mudenda, bemoaned the destructive habit of underage drinking and highlighted the vice’s negative impact on pupils’ academic performance. She urged pupils, to not stifle their potential by engaging in illicit activities, as the nation’s future rested on their shoulders.
SABMiller Zambia Corporate Affairs Director, Ezekiel Sekele said: “This is something we take very seriously as a company and is a core part of our sustainability agenda. We strongly believe today’s decisions should not compromise the ability of future generations to build meaningful livelihoods. Against this background, we have embarked on a vigorous campaign in schools to discourage underage consumption of alcohol. We seek to reach at least 6,000 pupils.
“As SABMiller Zambia, we want to continue to grow sustainably. This can only be done through nurturing of today’s youths into future responsible adults. The youths of today, therefore, should be allowed to focus on education and avoid negative vices such as underage drinking.”
The role of the youth in nation building is crucial. They are problem solvers, have a positive influence on other young people and the nation.
In promoting responsible alcohol consumption among consumers, Zambian Breweries has also partnered with the Road Traffic and Safety Agency, in the enforcement of existing legislation on drinking and driving.
Zambian Breweries Plc, National Breweries and Heinrich’s Beverages are part of the SABMiller Group, one of the world’s largest brewers, with more than 200 beer brands and some 70,000 employees in over 75 countries. It is also one of the world’s largest bottlers of soft drinks.
Zambian Breweries was established in Zambia in 1968 and its product range has grown to include clear beers such as Mosi Lager, Castle, Castle Lite, Flying Fish, Carling Black Label and Eagle beer as well as the Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta and Schweppes brands.
National Breweries produces the Chibuku brand opaque beer, while Heinrich’s makes the popular Maheu Super Shake range.
Kabulonga Girls’ School students celebrating the a talk by SABMiller on the dangers of underage drinking.
ZICTA officials switching off Komboni transmitters at Indeco House last night
By David Kapoma
Zambia is slowly becoming a court room. We all must be careful when we speak out on issues of national interest. Those who transmit our views to the nation and the general public are the target at the moment.
This reminds me of what happened to Zimbabwe when President Mugabe took over power from the colonial masters. He chased all the whites and slowly started frustrating all the media houses that spoke against him. By now we all know what has come of Zimbabwe. Mugabe was the exact opposite of what Mandela was. After 27 years in prison, Mandela became president and embraced those who put him in prison. Even when the blacks in South Africa demanded to chase all the whites in protest to what they went through, Mandela realised that he needed them. He was being a leader and had the interest of the people at heart.
Levy Mwanawasa (MHSRP) was called all sorts of names especially by the post newspaper but he never closed down the tabloid. He was tolerant and told those who called him names to continue doing so. Many times he did mention that as long as he was president people would call him names.
We have since entered a different period in Zambia. Here it’s no mercy. You mess up with the authority, you face the consequences. Life teachers us that when we start something in life we must think of where we are headed. The closing down of media in Zambia started with the post newspaper and now Muvi Tv, Komboni Radio and Radio Itezhi Tezhi. These actions must be leading us somewhere and this is what we must be interested to know as Citizens. This is not happening by accident but very well planned by those executing.
The question we need to ask ourselves is when will all this stop? Everything that starts must come to an end.
IBA was very wrong in closing down Muvi TV in the manner they did. I want to believe that there are other ways of dealing with offenders rather than giving them what I consider to be the maximum punishment. Muvi TV is one of the best private Media institutions in Zambia which has an African footprint that as a country we must be proud of.
At a time like this in our country we need to allow divergent views from the media. Silencing the media will not solve any of the problems we face as a country. It must be well known that the closure of Muvi TV is purely because of the stance the station has taken which is perceived to be anti-government. This is politics and those holding political power must tell the IBA to rescind their decision immediately to serve their face.
We are not going to continue with this kind of mediocre kind of actions by selfish individuals who only want their voices to be heard. Zambia is bigger than the few individuals that want to control the voices of the masses.
The current regime must be ready to embrace democracy. Could this be what the president meant at a rally in Kabwe when he said “I can sacrifice democracy for the sake of peace”. Can we really give up on our democracy in a so cheap and easy way?
Yesterday you closed post newspaper, today you have closed Muvi TV, Komboni radio and Itezhi Tezhi radio station. Who will you close tomorrow? Is this the case of hunting or what? Can we hear more voices speak and the media respected and given the independence to operate in a free environment. Where does the actions of those in power today leave the country? Do we even care about what the international community are now thinking about our country?
Lastly I want to remind the PF leadership that the same media they are abusing today they will need them in future. This is just the nature of life. They may look useless today but tomorrow they will have the power to decide your fate. Can the IBA tell us why they have picked on Muvi TV leaving the times of Zambia, Daily Mall and ZNBC. We must begin demanding for truth, fairness, honesty and integrity in our dealing.
Zambia is a democratic state. Don’t tell us to keep quiet as if we are in court… SILENCE IN COURT!
KK confers with Namibia President President. Hage Geingob at his Kabulonga office. Picture By Jean Mandela
The office of the first Republican President has dismissed social media reports suggesting that First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda has died.
Special Assistant to the first President, Sunday Musonda says contrary to social media reports, Dr. Kaunda is enjoying good health.
Mr. Musonda has told Qfm News yesterday that Dr. Kaunda in fact has scheduled programme today where he will appear in public in person.
He has since appealed to people behind such rumors to for once spread good news about the former Head of State.
Mr. Musonda has wondered why those behind the rumors of Dr Kaunda’s death fail to spread the good news that he has resurrected when they see him in public.
He states that people will do well to wish the first president good health the fact that he is the country’s icon.
Burnt Chikwato Village
GOVERNMENT says the situation in Namwala has normalised but there were some few incidents of attacks at night.
Namwala District Commissioner Mary Sakala said the displaced families were still being accommodated at the camp created at Namwala Secondary School.
Ms Sakala said the district was recording reports of attacks on the people during the evenings but the security had been reinforced and police had continued to patrol various areas.
“The situation has normalised during the day its quiet but at night that is when we hear reports of violence,” Ms Sakala said.
She warned perpetrators of violence that that wrath of the law was going to catch up with them because the police were already on the ground.
More than 100 people have been displaced in Namwala district by suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres who protested after the announcement of the Presidential elections results.
The displaced people have had their houses and property burnt.
Meanwhile a pedestrian died on the spot on the Lusaka/Livingstone road at Chiweza area between Muzoka and Batoka after being hit by a motor vehicle which was driven by Hakeem Chembe of Lusaka.
Southern Province Police Commissioner Godwin Phiri said the deceased who has been identified as Aluphias Nachibanga sustained fatal injuries.
The body has been deposited in Choma General Hospital awaiting Post mortem.
Police officers seal off Komboni Radio premises last night
We are disappointed with the decision of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to suspend licenses for Muvi TV, Komboni and Itezhi Tezhi Radio citing professional misconduct and threats to national security.
It is our view that the said suspension of licenses for the three stations is extreme and has a negative effect on the flow of information as well as a chilling effect on the practice of journalism as it amounts to arbitrary censorship of dissenting views.
It is worrying that there seems to be a trend in which private media houses seen to carry dissenting views have been targeted and persecuted using various laws and processes as was the case with the closure of the Post Newspaper and now with Muvi TV, Komboni Radio and Radio Itezhi Tezhi.
It is further worrying that no concrete dialogue was attempted by the IBA to persuade the stations to comply as provided in section 29 (7) of the 2010 IBA amendment act in relation to the sections invoked by the authority which provide for due process and warning prior to suspension or cancellation.
The IBA’s decision to wait till the elapsing of the pre, during and post-election period to crack the whip for violations they claim could pose a threat to national security raises suspicions as it leaves the authority’s conduct open to speculation given the current political events.
We strongly condemn the heavy presence of armed riot Police at Muvi TV who have since sealed off the entire building, denied access to management and staff and further arrested and charged some members of staff with criminal trespass.
A similar situation is currently obtaining at the other two stations according to the latest reports we have received.
A team comprising MISA Zambia and Media liaison committee officials has since met with IBA Board Chairperson, Brigadier General Justin Mutale, Director-General Josephine Mapoma and management of the authority and demanded the following:
I. That IBA immediately lifts the suspension of the licenses for the three stations to allow them operate pending the hearing to demonstrate the institution’s independence and autonomy, a demand which the IBA has taken into consideration.
II. That the date for the hearing be brought forward to allow for a speedy and amicable resolution of the matter without necessarily denying the citizens access to information and dissemination of alternative views.
It has been agreed that the IBA engages the Inspector-General of Police to immediately withdraw the Police officers that have besieged the stations thereby restricting access and disrupting operations while the demands are to be effected as a show of the authority’s independence.
We appeal to Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja to desist from being used for the achievement of political aims as shown by the overzealous action of Police officers at Muvi TV, Komboni Radio and Itezhi Tezhi Radio which leaves much to be desired.
MISA has alerted regional and international agencies and the diplomatic corps over the deterioration of media freedom in Zambia while engaging the three affected stations to offer assistance in order for the situation to be resolved as quickly as possible.
The Inspector-General of Police should know that the stations are not crime scenes or riot fronts where he should unleash such a battalion of riot Police to instil fear in the media personnel at the said stations. We demand that Mr. Kanganja immediately withdraws his troops from the media houses and unconditionally release the workers that have been detained for no reason.
We call on all media houses and practitioners to stand united and defend the freedom of the media against the oppression observed. Today it may be the Post Newspaper, Muvi TV, Komboni Radio or Itezhi Tezhi radio but it is only a matter of time before the axe lands on another media house.
We also encourage media houses to exercise maximum professionalism and remain steadfast in safeguarding the public interest.
