A group calling itself Concerned citizens has today reported United Party for National Development (UPND) national youth chairperson, Gilbert Liswaniso to police.

Mr. Liswaniso recently said that the youths will take the law into their hands to manhandle whoever criticizes President Hichilema.

Mr. Liswaniso further said that the UPND youths will not involve the police but ensure that those found wanting are dealt with.

Joseph Phiri who spoke to journalists shortly after delivering the letter to the police said the remarks made are very worrying and should warrant immediate action to summon Mr. Liswaniso.

He said not only are the remarks worrying but also undermines and threatens the country’s security as well as that of the ordinary citizens.

Mr. Phiri said that the remarks further have the capacity to incapacitate the freedoms of political parties and also undermine the country’s democracy.

The Minister of Information and Media Chushi Kasanda has said that KBN Television station’s broadcasting of a private telephone conversation between two senior Government officials without verifying the authenticity of the recording with the people concerned is unprofessional.

In a statement released to the media, Ms. Chushi described the action as contrary to media professional ethics and conduct, which demands that a journalist ought to verify any information before publishing it.

“Government is, therefore, concerned that KBN found itself in conflict with the law on a matter that it could have avoided had it followed basic principles of journalism, ” the Minister said in a statement.

Below is the full statement

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESRPERSON HON. CHUSHI KASANDA, MP ON PROFESSIONALISM IN THE MEDIA

Government is concerned with the unprofessional conduct of some media houses in their reporting. A case in point is KBN Television station which broadcast a private telephone conversation between two senior Government officials without verifying the authenticity of the recording with the people concerned.

This is contrary to media professional ethics and conduct, which demands that a journalist ought to verify any information before publishing it. Government is, therefore, concerned that KBN found itself in conflict with the law on a matter that it could have avoided had it followed basic principles of journalism.

The media profession has adequate guidelines which if observed, can protect journalists from misinforming, misleading and infringing upon other people’s rights. It ought to be stressed that, media freedom is not absolute as it comes with responsibility on the part of the media which include verifying information before publishing it, balance, objectivity and accuracy.

This is even more crucial now in the wake of social media where people who are not journalists share information, some of which is not true. Journalists as professionals must guard against falling prey to publishing any information that they collect without verification.

The onset of social media has placed higher responsibility on the media never to compromise their ethical and professional conduct. I wish to restate Government’s commitment to freedom of the media as this is key in the promotion and preservation of democracy.

This can be demonstrated by Government’s hands-off approach to the media in which it is promoting media self regulation, editorial independence and access to information. With these and other reforms that Government is undertaking, the media is assured of freedom in its role of informing, educating and entertaining the public.

But in all this, the media is called upon to play its part by being responsible and professional in their work. I also wish to take this opportunity to advise the media to always seek clarification from designated offices on various national matters.

For all Presidential matters, the designated office is that of the Presidential Spokesperson, for all Government issues, the designated office is that of the Chief Government Spokesperson who is also the Minister of Information and Media, and for all party matters the responsible office is that of the Party Spokesperson.

This is to ensure a smooth flow of information to the public.

Hon. Chushi Kasanda, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
20th January, 2022

The case in which the Patriotic Front (PF)’s Information and Publicity Chairperson Raphael Nakacinda is charged with defamation of the President has been referred to the Constitutional Court to rule whether it can continue in the Subordinate Courts.

Hon Nakacinda’s Lawyer Makebi Zulu said this follows an application made to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.

“Were as the Constitution provides for national values and principles and espouses the principle of equity, social justice, equality, and non-discrimination. We have a situation where article 98 of the Constitution gives immunity to the President that no civil or criminal proceedings can be instituted against him. Then how can he be cross-examined in instances where he is said to institute litigation against others?” questioned Mr. Zulu.

“We have argued that if the President is able to defame others saying “you are a clique of thieves”, the same said of him it becomes a criminal case. Where is equality? The state has agreed that there is a Constitutional question to be raised. The Court has said in the latter that there is no objection. The matter has been deferred for ruling as to whether it continues in the Subordinate Courts on Friday, January 28,’’he said.

Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe has said that the Zambia Police should consider engaging United Party for National Development (UPND) National Youth Chairperson Gilbert Liswaniso to understand his recent sentiments where he allegedly threatened to attack anyone insulting the Head of State.

Mr. Haimbe said that no one is above the law and that Mr. Liswaniso should explain what he meant in his statement issued at a media briefing early this week to avoid misinterpretation by citizens.

Speaking on the Hot seat programme this morning, Mr. Haimbe said Mr. Liswaniso used strong language which might need to be put into the right context.

Early this week, Mr. Liswaniso warned that the UPND youths would not sit back with hands folded and watch members of the opposition wage unjustifiable attacks on President Hichilema.

Addressing the Press at the UPND National Youth Command Center in Lusaka, Mr. Liswaniso stressed that he has noted with regret how named opposition political parties have taken to unfairly and unjustifiably defame the name of the President for political expediency.

Mr. Liswaniso, who emphasized that President Hichilema was aware of the numerous economic challenges that the youths in the party and the country were facing, stressed that there was no need for Zambians to stress as the Head of State had only done about a quarter of available appointments in the civil service.

Mr. Liswaniso also warned members of his party to desist from attacking the party and Government in public.

“As party members, we should guard against attacking the party in any way. If you’re a genuine member of the party, you should guard against attacking the party and its leadership. If you attack your own political party, tell us…we will give it to you. It is our responsibility to rectify things when they go wrong. We are aware of the high expectations from the youths who turned out in large numbers to vote for change. From the time we formed Government, as the National Youth Chairperson, we have been going around the country to assure the youths that the promises that President Hichilema made would come to pass,” he said.

Mr. Liswaniso warned of stern action against those who were in the habit of issuing unwarranted attacks against the party, Government, and civil servants.
He says those who will be attacking President Hichilema as an individual would be dealt with in their individual capacity. He also warned members of opposition political parties to desist from fanning confusion and violence in the 3rd February Kabwata Parliamentary by-elections to stay away.