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Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Patrick Matibini (Picture by Albert Mpezeni)
Speaker of the National Assembly has directed Information and Broadcasting Services Dora Siliya to issue a ministerial statement outlining the editorial policy of the Times of Zambia on the use of languages.
This follows a point of order raised by Monze central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu on whether Chinese had become one of Zambia’s official languages following the publication of an article in Chinese by the times of Zambia on 9th october,2018.
Ruling on the point of order, Dr. Matibini directed that the Minister of Information renders a ministerial statement to the house on tuesday,6th november,2018.
He says as indicated by Mr Mwiimbu in his point of order, the official language of Zambia is English and that this is provided for in article 258(1) of the constitution of Zambia which states that the official language of Zambia is English.
On the other part of Mr. Mwiimbu’s point of order on the alleged discrimination against the people of Zambia by the times of Zambia newspapers by publishing an article in Chinese when there has been no such publication in any local language contrary to article 23 of the constitution, Dr. Matibini says article 28(1) is clear that any person who feels that his/her fundamental rights of freedoms have been infringed may seek redress in the high court.