Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
A new organisation known as the Intellectual Forum Institute of Zambia (IFIZ) has been formed to encourage informed social, political and economic debates in the country.
Announcing the formation of the organisation in a statement, IFIZ President Dr Alex Ng’oma says the organisation will serve as a platform for intellectuals from all spheres to interact and share knowledge and ideas through public presentations and debates.
Dr Ng’oma adds that the outputs of the intellectual platforms are expected to feed into wider national discourses and development agenda to promote informed debate and decisions at individual citizens level as well as institutional level.
Dr Ng’oma bemoans the fact that intellectuals have shunned participation in, especially, political debates as this has become an arena for uncivil behaviour, character assassination, insults and violence.
He adds that this has denied the country an opportunity to benefit from the vital contributions intellectuals make in terms of knowledge and ideas that contribute towards producing an informed citizenry that is able to participate in the country’s democracy and development effectively.
He hopes that IFIZ will serve as a channel through which intellectuals will avail, generate, interrogate and refine ideas, knowledge and issues that are otherwise taken for granted, in an objective, respectful and issue-based manner.
Dr Ng’oma says plans to officially launch the organisation have since reached an advanced stage.
IFIZ has four core programme areas that include research, public forums, library/ documentation, and media action.