Fair coverage of January presidential election was at 76 percent – reveals research

Research findings on the 20th January presidential election have revealed that fair coverage of political parties by the media was at 76 percent.

The research which was conducted by the South African based Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) in collaboration MISA Zambia Chapter in partnership with the Open Society Institute for Southern Africa has also indicated that 91 percent of male politicians accessed media coverage compared to female politicians.

Speaking Lusaka during the official launch of the research findings, MMA Researcher Carol Mohlala said the findings of the research also indicate that only five political parties of all the parties that contested the election were covered with a coverage share of 91 percent.

Ms. Mohlala says of the five political parties, the ruling PF topped the list with a coverage share of 34.7 percent followed by the opposition UPND which got 31.3 percent with NAREP being least with 3.2 percent share.

She has explained that her organization which has been in existence for over 20 years has conducted its first ever research on Zambia because it wants to help the country improve it election media coverage.

Earlier MISA Zambia Chapter Chairperson Hellen Mwale said MISA desires to work with MMA in conducting a similar research on a large scale.

Ms. Mwale who spoke in a speech read on her behalf by MISA Zambia national Director Austin Kayanda says MISA would like to conduct a similar research on the forthcoming tripartite election.