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The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has warned information Minister Chishimba Kambwili to desist from terrorizing the media.
Hellen Mwale
MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale in a statement says Mr Kambwili’s threats to revoke the broadcasting license for radio Phoenix amounts to violation of media freedom.
She says it is the duty of the Independent Broadcasting to act with utmost independence and professional autonomy to review any such situations without undue influence over the process by the Minister himself.
Ms Mwale says claims by the Minister that there is influence of the opposition at radio station is testimony that the PF Government does not want to be criticized and does not encourage space for participatory democracy.
She says MISA Zambia is displeased that the Minister entrusted with the affairs of the media in the country is the one taking the lead to harass and terrorize media houses.
Ms Mwale has reminded the Minister that one of the duties of his portfolio is to help foster media development and diversity through the creation of a favourable environment for the media to flourish, as opposed to suppressing media outlets that are seen to be critical of government.
And the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) says it is appalled by threats made by Information and Broadcasting Minister Chishimba Kambwili to revoke the broadcasting license of Radio Phoenix.
YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza in a statement says the threats by Mr Kambwili must send a chilling warning to the media that if they don’t stand up for each other, they risk creating a media that is not free to operate and controlled by tyrants.
Mr. Mwanza has also reminded Mr. Kambwili that the fall of many regimes in the past always begun when leaders became intolerant against the media which holds divergent views.
Mr. Mwanza states that Mr. Kambwili can do well to remember that the PF would not have been in power today if the MMD had acted with caution and restraint when dealing with the media.
He says Government must not only be concerned with the radio station’s bias towards the opposition political party, but must also be concerned about the public perception that the public media has a very strong bias towards the ruling party.