Zambia: 'We'll Not Interfere in Operations of Media Houses'

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The Times of Zambia (Ndola)

6 October 2008
Posted to the web 6 October 2008

INFORMATION and Broadcasting Minister, Mike Mulongoti, has said the Government will not interfere in the operations of media houses but challenged them to cover all presidential candidates in a fair manner.

Mr Mulongoti also said media organisations cannot continue claiming freedom of the Press after seemingly declaring support for specific candidates.

Appearing on a special Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television programme on Saturday evening, Mr Mulongoti said the Government never intimidated the media and had no hand in the editorial decisions of the public media.

He said that the Government championed media freedom and there was no way it could frustrate what it stood for because he wanted the people to be well informed.

Mr Mulongoti was, however, quick to reiterate that like any other freedom, media freedom had responsibility, which should be adhered to by all practitioners.

For instance, he said, if a media house took a position against one candidate, then it could not continue claiming media freedom because it became a competitor instead of being a referee.

"Once you take a position and choose to attack one of the candidates, then you will be considered as a competitor. There is no way you can continue enjoying full media freedoms when you are a competitor," he said.

He said instead of concentrating on one candidate, the media should provide information on all the candidates.

On speculation that the Government could have something to do with the recent fire at Radio Phoenix building, Mr Mulongoti said it would be mischievous for anybody to think like that.

The minister said he was happy that Radio Phoenix proprietor, Errol Hickey, had clarified that the fire could have been ignited by an electrical fault in the building.

And speaking as MMD presidential candidate, Mr Rupiah Banda as campaign manager, Mr Mulongoti expressed confidence that the acting Republican president would be elected.

Meanwhile, Mr Banda yesterday said he was determined to dislodge the United Party for National Development (UPND) in Southern Province.

Speaking on arrival at Livingstone International Airport at the start of his campaign in the province, Mr Banda said he was confident that the support shown by the people of Livingstone was a good sign for his victory in the October 30 presidential poll.

Southern Province MMD chairman, Solomon Muzyamba, said the recent endorsement by the Southern chiefs for Mr Banda showed UPND's collapse.

And the MMD has appointed Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, as the new campaign manager for Mr Banda.

MMD national secretary, Katele Kalumba, said his deputy, Jeff Kaande, would deputise Mr Pande and Mr Mulongoti would nowjoin the campaign team on the Copperbelt.

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