Journalists from different media houses and media institutions in Lusaka yesterday held a peaceful demonstration against the continued harassment and intimidation by sections of society.

The Journalists who displayed placards and banners with messages,”abashi intimidation, Save the media, Journalists need respect among others, unsettled security personnel in their attempt to calm and sympathise with the journalists.

This was during a petition presented to government over the continued harassment of journalists by political party cadres.

Presenting the petition, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chairperson Henry Kabwe condemned harassment and violence against the journalists saying that the harassment should not be tolerated it is capable of becoming uncontrollable.

Mr. Kabwe demanded protection of journalists from the police because journalists are merely doing a noble cause.

He expressed hope that government will comprehensively study the petition effectively and in a conducive manner for the good of this country as far as information dissemination is concerned.

In response, Vice President George Kunda said the media is exemplary executing its duties diligently to informa the public but sounded that some articles issued by the media are provocative.

Mr Kunda reiterated government’s commitment to addressing hooliganism against media personnel in the country.

He said government is equally disturbed about the continued harassment of journalists by political party cadres saying government condemns all forms of violence and harassment of media personnel.

Vice President Kunda said there is need for journalists to work in harmony in the interest of developing the nation and media growth.

MISA (Z) members, Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) members, Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA) members, Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) members and Post Press Freedom Committee Chairperson Webster Malido were among the people who attended the petition presentation protest ceremony.

Others who attended are Journalists from the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS), Zambia Daily Mail, Times of Zambia, Mobi Television, Muvi Television, Yatsani Radio, Radio Phoenix, Qfm Radio among other public and private media institutions.

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister and Chief Government Spokesperson Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President David Sampa and senior government officials are some of the officials who witnessed the petition presentation ceremony.

On August 6, 2009, a Lusaka Magistrate Court granted an MMD cadre K3 million bail for harassing and assaulting a Post Journalist Chibaula David Silwamba and Times of Zambia senior reporter Anthony Mulowa.

Lusaka Magistrate David Simusamba slapped a K3 million bail on MMD Lusaka Province Youth Chairman Chris Chalwe for assault.

Chalwe, 42 on another count is accused of having assaulted the duo who are journalists.

Facts before the Court are that Chalwe on July 29 did assault the two Journalists causing occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

The court adjourned the matter and it comes up in court on August 18 for mention while trial is expected to commence on August 28, 2009.

ZANIS

Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has accused the the Media of failing to come up with self regulatory measures to protect journalists from continued harassment by political party cadres.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, who is also Information and broadcasting services minister, said despite the continued attacks for a period of nine years from 2000 to-date, the media has failed to protect its personnel and instead looked upon government.

Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha warned that Government will put in place a legal framework in six months period which the media failed in nine years.

The spokesperson said this in Parliament, today, during an oral and answer session in Parliament.

He also gave a ministerial statement on the continued harassment of media personnel by suspected party cadres mainly from the ruling MMD and the Patriotic Front/United Party for National Development (PF/UPND Pact.

He however accused the media practitioners of encouraging violence because of what they publish.

The Minister cited that the genocides in Rwanda were agitated by Journalists from both electronic and print media adding that this should be avoided in Zambia.

ZANIS

Peoples Action Forum (PAF) Executive Director Jennifer Chiwela has urged government to increase the 2010 National budget to the education sector.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka today, Ms Chiwela says the education sector has suffered greatly due to adequate funding from the government.

Ms. Chiwela said government should allocate more than the three percent of the funds set aside for the education sector in the country.

She has further appealed to government to speed up the national policy on illiteracy because it has taken too long adding that the success of adult literacy depends on it.

Ms. Chiwela expressed concern that if the process of policy implementation is not quickly looked into adult literacy will not yield desirable results.

She explained that currently there is no common curriculum and education material that has been put in place to improve the development of adult education.

Ms. Chiwela said the delay has resulted in the development of different types of education materials for adult literacy in the country.

ZANIS

Henry Kapoko’s wife Mary Mwamba has been arrested along with her sister Christabel Kalimu for forgery.

Mr. Kapoko is at the centre of the K27 billion scam at the Ministry of Health.

His wife Mary and sister in-law Christable were arrested on Wednesday.

On unknown dates but between April 1 2008 and January 13 2009, Mary with intent to deceive or defraud while acting together with other unknown persons did forge a grade 12 statement of results.

The statement of results was purported to have been genuinely issued by the Examination Council of Zambia-ECZ

It was also purported to have been obtained at Lusaka West School.

During the same period, Christable also forged a grade 12 statement of results.

The statement of results was purported to have been issued genuinely by the Examination Council of Zambia-ECZ and obtained at Naboye High School.

[ZNBC]

Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa says the objective of the establishment of the Constituency offices in all the 150 constituencies in the country is to provide meeting places for Members of Parliament and their constituents.

Mr. Mwanamwambwa said the move promotes the interaction between MPs and their constituents which is critical for true representation.

He was speaking when he laid a foundation stone on the construction of the first ever Rufunsa constituency office in Chongwe today.

Mr. Mwanamwambwa said constituency offices are currently operating from rented buildings adding that some of the structures have not been suitable for use as office accommodation for MPs.

He added that the arrangement of renting office accommodation proved costly and threatened the sustainability of operating the constituency offices project.

Mr. Mwanamwambwa said he is launching the construction of the offices one at a time adding that he will soon be launching the other three constituency offices at Mwembeshi in Lusaka, Masaiti on the Copperbelt and Chasefu in Eastern Provinces respectively.

He appealed to cooperating partners who are supporting them in building the capacities of MPs and staff to consider lending their support to the construction project in order to ensure its timely completion.

Speaking at the same occasion, Rufunsa MP Kenneth Chipungu said people of Rufunsa should reflect and cherish the initiative that has been made by government.

Mr. Chipungu who is also Youth Sport, and Child Development Minister, appealed to his constituents to protect the property as it is the first of the parliamentary Constituency offices constructed in the area.

Speaking earlier, chairperson of the committee on Parliamentary Reforms, Katele Kalumba said the Rufunsa office will be constructed simultaneously with the one at Chasefu, Masaiti and Mwembeshi constituencies.

ZANIS