Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The opposition UPND has called for the thriving of the Journalism profession in Zambia towards better reporting and gender equality.
The UPND also believes that a free and vibrant media is an essential part of any democracy the reason it has committed itself to such kind of a media.
In his World Press Freedom Day statement to Qfm News UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has observed that a government that is open, transparent and has the best intentions of its citizens at heart should have nothing to fear from an independent media.
Hakainde Hichilema
Mr. Hichilema states that such a government should in fact welcome an independent media as a healthy forum for debate, information sharing and exchange of opinions.
He says his party is today Sunday the 3rd of May which is World Press Freedom Day reminding the PF government that the media does not exist to serve its interests.
The UPND president observes that in recent years the incidences of journalists being intimidated by those that are supposed to protect them has become all too common, while at same time editors that value and protect the independence and journalistic integrity of their staff have been struggling to maintain their positions in the face of external pressure.
He notes that regrettably, one of the results for the country’s journalists is that they struggle to break through into international media because the quality of work is limited by the constraints placed on them by the government and their superiors.
The opposition leader states that his party thinks that the routine use of the media for self-serving and personal battles presents a challenge that must be overcome through joint efforts.
He has suggested that the first step that must be done is a clear commitment from government, the opposition and the civil society to non-interference besides supporting the professionalism and independence of journalists and editors.
Mr. Hichilema says supporting and enabling Zambian journalists to engage in good quality and independent journalism has never been more important than now.
He has since wished journalists in the country a productive World Press Freedom Day which will be officially commemorated tomorrow Monday the 4th of May.