Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has called for responsible coverage of the 2015 presidential election by all broadcasting media houses in the country.
The IBA is calling upon radio and television stations to conduct themselves in a professional manner by following the programming standards provided in the IBA ACT.
Speaking this morning at a media briefing held in Lusaka, IBA Board chairman Justin Mutale has observed that it is no longer a secret that irresponsible coverage during election time may incite members of the public to violence.
Retired Brigadier General Mutale, who was franked by his board members and IBA Director General Josephine Mapoma, states that the Authority is also urging broadcasting stations to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct.
He says the Authority expects that all stations will respect the human dignity, human rights and freedoms as well as tolerate divergent views in their coverage.
The IBA Board chairman says the IBA also expects that broadcasting stations shall report election news in an accurate, impartial and balanced manner.
He adds that the Authority further expects that the stations shall have comprehensive, unbiased and independent news broadcasts.
General Mutale further states that broadcasting media houses should have allegiance to the truth and desist from issuing speculative results besides observing procedures for correcting factual errors and redressing unfairness.
He notes that while it is understood that coverage of political parties during elections is on an equitable basis, the IBA however, expects that radio and television stations shall observe the principle of the right to reply.