The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has given Muvi Television a final warning after finding the station guilty of unprofessional conduct.

IBA Board Chairperson, Mabel Mung’omba says the Authority held a sitting on May 24, 2021 and established a clear case against Muvi TV over the manner it handled its Special Assignment programme which featured Economic and Equity Party (EEP) president Chilufya Tayali.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mrs. Mung’omba said IBA was incensed with the conduct of the moderator who allowed Mr Tayali to make serious allegations without providing evidence and further failing to guide him against making unsubstantiated claims.

The IBA Chairperson has since sounded a warning to Muvi TV, saying the authority will be compelled to take punitive measures as prescribed by the law if the station is found wanting again.

“The Authority hereby gives Muvi TV a final warning failure to which the Authority will not hesitate to invoke Section 29 of the IBA (Amendment) Act Number 26 of 2010 which gives the Board the power to suspend, revoke or cancel any broadcasting license, issued under the Act,” Mrs. Mung’omba said.

Mrs. Mung’omba said IBA gave Muvi TV an opportunity to exculpate themselves as provided for in the IBA Act.

“In arriving at this decision the board is on firm ground because the due process of the law was followed in finding Muvi TV guilty of unprofessional conduct by giving the station an opportunity to be heard on 18th May, 2021,” she stated.

She said Muvi TV has had a poor compliance record in the past.

She recalled how IBA suspended the station’s license in 2016 for unethical conduct, before, during and after the 2016 general elections.

Mrs. Mung’omba also pointed out that the station has been receiving complaints from the general public.

“The station has had a number of complaints raised against it by members of the public including invasion of privacy by filing and conducting interviews at a business premise without obtaining permission and unauthorized use of a signal of another station,” she said.

And the IBA Board chairperson also recollected that on April 30, 2021, the Authority cautioned Muvi TV for failure to exercise good moral and ethical judgment when it featured Poor People’s Party president Alex Muliokela.

“The Authority directed the station to guard against broadcasting material which may cause humiliation, distress and violate human dignity contrary to Section 33 of the IBA Act Number 17 of 2002,” Mrs. Mung’omba said.

Meanwhile, IBA Board Chairperson also warned media houses against being reckless and irresponsible in their reporting in the run-up to the August 12, 2021 general elections.

The National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ), has expressed concern that most of the football teams in North-western province are employing untrained coaches and using unqualified match officials.

NSCZ Sports Development Committee chairperson Musunka Silungwe told ZANIS that the province requires a lot of technical support in terms of training and certification of coaches.

Silungwe said this after his committee visited Chavuma, Zambezi and Solwezi districts on a familiarisation tour of the province.

“We have travelled the great expanse of North-western province all the way to Chavuma and Zambezi…Zambia has a lot to offer in terms of enthusiasm for sport and talent. However, one of the challenges that we have noticed is that a lot of technical support is required in the province,” he said.

He said the other challenge which the committee discovered was transportation as most teams do not own buses to take them around to make fixtures.

Silungwe however said his committee can devise a strategy of acquiring buses for sporting teams which will be exempted from paying duty.

He has therefore requested all the teams wishing to procure sports goods and buses to contact the National Sports Council of Zambia for help.

He added that lack of sports facilities was another challenge, noting that many football teams are using school grounds.

Meanwhile, Silungwe was delighted to learn that Kansanshi mine has introduced a farmers’ league where villages around the mine area have made their own football pitches.

The mine provides villagers with all the equipment that they need for them to play soccer in an organised league.

Silungwe further revealed that the sports development committee is also trying to promote a policy of the inclusion of the girl child in sports.

“One of the policies that we are trying to promote under the sports development committee is the inclusion of the girl child in sport…countries that have performed well in balancing the participation of young girls and balancing gender are those whose sports have generally done much better than those countries which haven’t,” he added.

He has since encouraged the people in North-western province to support local sports by watching the games.

He explained that the financing of sports is from spectators who buy tickets to watch matches.

Silungwe and his team are in Northwestern province for a five day familiarization tour and are expected to complete the visit to the region tomorrow.

Zambia boss Milutin Sredojevic has confirmed that Chipolopolo have approached Dutch international Guus Til regarding a potential switch of allegiance.

Til, 23, was born in Samfya, Zambia, but moved to the Netherlands at the age of three and has represented the European country on the international stage, going so far as to make his senior debut for the country under Ronald Koeman in 2018.

However, the Spartak Moscow star could be set to switch allegiances to his country of birth after national team coach Sredojevic confirmed that the Football Association had approached him about representing Zambia.

“We have approached him,” the former Orlando Pirates boss shared on Twitter. “Respectfully, we shall see what the future holds ahead as we have some of his young age mates that would be an absolute football delight to watch.

“It is mind-blowing for Zambia football lovers to play together Guus Till [sic.], Patson Daka, Enock Mwepu, Fashion Sakala…”

Til started his career in the Dutch Eredivisie where he quickly established himself as a star player at AZ Alkmaar, scoring 28 goals in 96 appearances for the club from midfield to earn his first call-up to the Netherlands squad.

He then joined Russian giants Spartak Moscow in 2019 before spending the recently-concluded season on loan in the Bundesliga with SC Freiburg, although he is likely to be on the move again next season.

According to German publication kicker, Til has returned to his parent club despite Freiburg holding an option to buy him, and it is anticipated that he will return to Holland to spend the 2020/21 season on loan with Feyenoord.

Inspector-General of Police, Kakoma Kanganja has advised political parties intending to hold public gatherings to seek certification from Public Health Inspectors before notifying the police on their intended activity.

Mr Kanganja advised that the Zambia Police will only approve public gatherings on condition of presentation of certification from Public Health Inspectors and compliance to health guidelines, failure to which the events will be cancelled.

“Failure to comply with such guidelines in instances where a public gathering is allowed, shall lead to cancellation of such a gathering.” He said

He said the police is only re-emphasising the guidelines as they are already in existence and the public is aware.

Mr Kanganja has urged all groups and individuals to keep the guard by adhering to public health guidelines as advised by the Ministry of Health.

The German International Cooperation (GIZ) has awarded five Schools out of 58 Schools in Lusaka district with Jumbo hand wash facilities, tanks of water, hand sanitizer, and liquid soap for being the best in adherence to the covid-19 guidelines.

Lusaka City Council has also given out 116 cases of chlorine to the 58 Schools to enable them win the fight against covid-19.

Lusaka District Commissioner (DC) David Silubanje who graced the handover and award giving ceremony of the safe back to School campaign at Kasamba Combine School in Matero said government has invested in the water, sanitation and hygiene as the sector is fundamental to human development.

Mr. Silubanje noted that the objective of the campaign is to support the 58 schools and their surrounding communities with water, sanitation and hygiene services as a response mechanism to covid-19 pandemic to safeguard leaners, teachers, and community members from infection transmission.

He noted that the safe back to school campaign has helped the 58 schools to respond to covid-19 through various interventions which include risk and communication training, sustainability trainings with regards to the hand wash facilities, education, and communication materials around the school environment.

“Government understands that when pupils have better access to water and sanitation they are healthier and able to work more productively as it contributes to attendance of Schools,” he said.

The DC stated that the Jumbo Hand Wash Facilities will create an enabling environment regarding hand washing as one of the golden rules of preventing the spread of covid-19 pandemic.

The Germany International cooperation in Zambia (GIZ) Country Coordinator for Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NATURES) Gigi Goodhart said her organization embarked on a Green School campaign which is aimed at creating awareness to pupils and learners on the dangers of covid-19 pandemic.

Goodhart highlighted that GIZ came up with a programme which seeks to create a conducive environment for both the teachers and pupils to prevent themselves from covid-19 pandemic.

“GIZ is happy to partner with communities and school authorities so that the pupils are safe and protected from the covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

The GIZ also provided hand sanitizers , liquid soap, mops, brooms, facemasks, five water tanks, and hand washing soap to the five schools.

Ms Goodhart said the five Schools which benefited from the award included Chamba Valley, Ng’ombe Primary School, UTN Special School, Edwin Mulongoti Primary School, and Twalumba combined School.

LCC Public Health Director Christopher Mtonga said the donated items will help in promoting sanitation and awareness against covid-19 pandemic in Schools.

Mr Mtonga also thanked the five awarded Schools for adhering to the five golden rules of covid-19 preventive measures.

“As the local authorities we have a role to make sure that people in Lusaka are safe and it is for this reason that we want to see schools continue adhering to the covid-19 preventive measures,” he said.