Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has demanded total impartiality in whatever the commission of inquiry set up to look into electoral violence is going to do or say in the final analysis.
Bishop Evans Chinyemba
Speaking during the ZCCB Media Day in Lusaka this afternoon, Bishop of Mongu who is also Bishop Director for Caritas Zambia, Evans Chinyemba says the inquiry should be premised on healing the nation and not on fixing offenders.
Bishop Chinyemba says the country should move forward in unity now that the elections are over.
And Bishop Chinyemba says the media in the country should be allowed to operate freely, stating that intimidation and harassment of the media is not desirable in a democracy.
He says if the media is intimidated and closed, injustices will become a norm as they will be no one to expose them.
Bishop Chinyemba has further reminded government that freedom of the press demands respect and protection of the right to obtain and publish information or opinions without government censorship.
And ZCCB President Father Cleophas Lungu says the church cannot proclaim the gospel without the media.
He says the media plays a critical role in shaping the nation and thus should be protected and allowed to freely operate.