Govt to meet diplomats over the suspension of Prime TV

Government has hinted plans to meet embassies in Zambia that have expressed concern over the suspension of privately owned prime television for one month.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji  who confirmed the development disclosed that government has not yet received official communication from the embassies with regards to the suspension  of the TV station.

Mr. Malanji says his ministry has a responsibility to explain issues that happen to diplomats in order to reduce miscommunication and misconceptions that maybe created by social media.

He adds that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and IBA has competent workers who he believes exhausts required processes before arriving at the decision to suspend prime TV for one month.

The minister said this in Addis Ababa shortly after arriving from Comoros where he led a SADC ministerial committee to discuss progress made on the application by Comoros To be admitted to SADC.

He says Comoros has expressed willingness to append its signature to the protocol on peace and security and privileges and immunities.

The minister further disclosed that he held meetings with the countries Interim President Abudul Moustardrane, speaker of The Comoros Assembly Dr. Abdou, members of the electoral commission and opposition party leaders.

He states that all the stakeholders concerned expressed consensus on the need for the country to hold free and fair elections, despite the electoral commission having been set up not more than five years ago.

And Malanji says in the wake of Comoro’s failure to sign the protocols before the election date , the decision whether SADC will monitor elections in Comoros or not will be decided during the SADC meeting scheduled for Namibia next week.

Meanwhile Mr. Malanji says president Lungu has placed high premium on gender equality.

He says the appointment of a first female vice president is testimony that president wants gender parity to be actualized In Zambia.

This is according to a statement released to q-news by first secretary for press and tourism at the Zambian Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Inutu Mwanza.