The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is concerned that some sections of the Zambian society have been occasionally failing to access the online publication, Zambian Watchdog for about three days.
MISA Zambia has received complaints from various stakeholders complaining that they are failing to access one of the most influential online media in Zambia which is an alternative source of news for many citizens.
The development is also being closely monitored by the MISA Regional Secretariat in Namibia which has for over a decade advocated for media freedom, diversity, independence and pluralism.
Vice-president Guy Scott Friday morning is said to have told parliament that the PF government will greatly celebrate the day the Zambianwatchdog will be brought down and inaccessible in Zambia.
Dr Scott was responding to questions from opposition law makers led by Kaputa MP Joel Bweupe Maxas Ng’onga who wanted to find out whether it was true that this website has been blocked from inside Zambia.
[pullquote] the PF government will greatly celebrate the day the Zambianwatchdog will be brought down and inaccessible in Zambia-Guy Scott[/pullquote]
Dr Scott said he did not have much details on the blocking but quickly said he and his government would rejoice greatly the day the site would be closed as it had caused too much harm to his government.
He said the Zambian Watchdog has endangered the nation’s security and tainted Zambia’ international reputation.
“This is the website that has accused everyone of being adulterous, a thief, terminally ill, corrupt, and so on, so we would glad to have it shut because it is denting our image abroad”, Scott said as a number of opposition MP kept murmuring in disapproval.
But Monze Central Member of Parliament Jackie Mwiimbu said the Zambianwatchdog was the only source of credible news and information in Zambia.
Mr. Mwiimbu wondered whether it was not true that civil servants were only given 4 per cent salary increment as shown by the documents carried by the Zambiawatchdog.
In response, Dr Scott said he was even more worried that even MPs were now using the Zambianwatchdog content as basis for debate and questioning government in parliament.
According to Zambian Watchdog problems started Monday 24 June 15:30 GMT when Internet connections coming from inside Zambia towards Zambianwatchdog.com were quickly terminated during the connection establishment.
I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT MIND IF THE ZWD IN ITS CURRENT FORM WAS CLOSED. INSTEAD OF DISCUSSING ITS CLOSURE, WHY CANT’T WE DISCUSS ITS CONTENTS. I DONT MIND THE DIVERGENT VIEWS IT CARRIES. BUT IT IS THE INSULTS THAT ARE DEFAMATORY TO THE PRESIDENT AND MANY PEOPLE. IF THERE IS A MECHANISM OF MAKING THE OWNERS OF ZWD TO BE ACCOUNTABLE OVER WHAT THEY PUBLISH, THEN WE WILL BE SAFE.
We are working on deleting it. We are just letting them post more styupiti issues, so we have current examples. No one wants to read those ZWD.
we need alternatives sir. this is a democracy where individuals have liberties and choices.
…mmmmm,
liberty to insult?
So you would sacrifice the freedom of expression because people are insulting the president?
@Nostradamus
Surprised by your viewpoint and stance.
I’m not pro-PF, but ZWD lacks objectivity n is unprofessional in all it’s reporting. It’s pathetic
In the first place this is not worth to discuss this is an illigal website run by crooks aimed at bringing our country down. MiSA how do you support an organisation who operates in the dark, we don’t know their editor , where they operate from ? BLOCKING THIS SITE is good we don’t want evil people to be used by this useless online media.If credible News ofThe world was closed what about this useless online fimofimo.IF THEY ARE CREDIBLE LET THEM COME OUT in the openI know one of them is based in SA a TONGA chap
This is why I only read the LT. The Post is too pro PF, the ZWD is the UPND mouthpiece. Both are blinded by hate of the other party that all their Reporting is tainted With their biased views. I Used to support the PF when they were in opposition but now not so much. While I appreciate the Development brought (ie New communication, infrastacture etc), their governance human rights is questionable. The opposition has no ideas, all they do is criticise even where praise is due. So I say keep up the good work ba LT, you are the only ones neutral enough for both the govt and opposition to run to and get the facts. (Athough I detest Your Reporting on my beloved Kalampa).
I find it very sad that when the ZWD is spreading lies or false
Information MISA is quiet but what’s to talk now!shame on these
Organisations.
Wow the post newspaper did the same to MMD regime. Why didn’t they close it.
People should be allowed to and choose to believe in what they want. Don’t be the Communist China
Atleast for the Post we knew who to hold accountable for the information published so they were even more careful with what was published. ZWD on the other hand ‘operates in the dark’ like someone already put it. Who are the authors? Who is the editor? Where are they based? I say close it down!!
In fact ill join Dr Scot in celebrating the Demise of the Zambian
Watch dog!!.
it’s alive and kicking. am sure you must be disappointed. Remember that “oppression is the recipe for revolution.”
Block the Post and the Sata media!
Good ridance!!
******** then let government publish the ‘truth’ instead of hitting below the belt
Good ridabce!!!!
I love ZWD.
Me too. Viva ZWD
Watchdog has been blocked by views outside Zambia for the fourth day now
Go to chella’s pro pf website Zambian intelligence news. they are doing exactly what ZWD is doing but on opposition leaders. when refering to opposition leaders, they use so many derogatory and insulting terms. so why is it not blocked also?
Zambian intelligence news Looks exactly like ZWD. . . very funny.
Its blocked again. The Post = ZWD just serving different masters, worse more if u bring into the equation The Daily PF, Times of PF and ZNBC – PF. at theend of the day,we must chose, make up our own minds.
How much has been invested in the Blocking?
Its good if its blocked they lack professionalism. just insults instead of analysing issues professionally thats what the post used to do not insults.
Thanks
Some people dont think, if they can block ZWD then whats to stop other media from being blocked? Its a threat to all media
I like reading ZWD news,because its not boring like other medias which are only for the govt.ZWD is the media that digs dipper.
How much money was spent carrying out this exercise? Were the Chinese involved?
The ZWD is a mirror to you (PF) depending on what you want to look like the mirror reflects exactly that. If you govern the country like normal leaders that is the reflection you will get, but if you govern the country like your personal businesses then you will get that reflection. More over you do not care what the rest of the world thinks about you, even when you bribe MPS from other parties, get your pension benefits before you retire, have ceremonial vice president to just eat Govt money, arrest political opponents, allow your MPs to just notify the police to hold public meetings while opposition political parties must seek police permit to do the same, when you refuse or block opponents from meeting, send thugs to beat people in church, only God knows the end of the list…
Its a crappy website.I hate it to the bone.
a lot of useless tushushushuz posting today…faaac the pamaafia government.and certain comments are coming from edgar lungu,ci wnter and ka guy skot.mwanyelakwateni mukabona.
some comments are coming directly from guy scot,ka edgar lungu,winter kabimba,sakeni and some tumuselela pakaba shushushuz…atase,mwanyelakwateni mukabona.i love zwd only news pa zed.
Most Zambians think insulting the President is freedom of speech. This is very unfortunate. Watchdog site is a danger to the security of our nation and peace, their reporting is pathetic, untrue, sensational unfounded and utterly nonsense and misplaced. They are ever in denial why? An example in question is the killing of the mailoni brothers by our brave and galant Zambian soldiers. All peace loving zambians were or happy that these criminals who have been terrorising our people for years have now been eliminated , but zwd chose to condenm the government and PF. Who do they represent? We ask this question becourse of the their unpatriotic stance and the spreading of falsehood bent on dividing the nation on tribal inclinations and the preach of hatred, why?
GOOD DEVELOPMENT!
What do those in the media fratenity think they are?Does it mean u have to slander,incite,insult ,lie etc o in the name of media freedoms or freedom of expression ?In addition yo where abouts are not known?Misa ulichipumbu.Stop hiding in journalism!
Ukutamba imbwa Zambia must be closed indefinitely. It is not for newsworthy.
You really call the watchdog “one of the most influential online media in Zambia which is an alternative source of news for many citizens” come on people. As much as I love freedom of speech I detest lies too and the watchdog is nothing but a mouthpiece if pure lies and hurt. Freedom of speech for both citizens and media houses come with responsibility and if all you do misleading and hurtful information which you then call alternatives then you are so f++++ in your brains.
You really call the watchdog “one of the most influential online media in Zambia which is an alternative source of news for many citizens” come on people. As much as I love freedom of speech I detest lies too and the watchdog is nothing but a mouthpiece if pure lies and hurt. Freedom of speech for both citizens and media houses come with responsibility and if all you do misleading and hurtful information which you then call alternatives then you are so f+++++ in your brains.
Why has Zwd become so popular?
…unpopular.
Zambia watch galu should be closed as it is just a platform for bitter people to insult the president.
I don’t believe PF have the resources nor the expertise to interfere with internet traffic. May be they are using Chinese experts. I doubt anyone in government has even ever heard of Apache web server.
And your point is……? I thought if you do not have certain technical capabilities; you go out and acquire them! All govts on earth do this, so what’s so unique about the Zambian govt doing this?
I bet even you at some point did not know what an “Apache Web Server” was, but you invested time, and probably even money, to acquire this knowledge. Same thing with the govts!
And if you ask me, it is good that our Govt is taking cyber/Internet literacy seriously. With ecommerce and on-line banking being the future, it is about time our govt security wings took cyber technical knowhow seriously—ever heard of cyber warfare? If my bank account is electronically tampered with, I definitely want my country’s security wings to be on top of their game when investigating such crimes!
am not in govt but apache web server is simply some open source software that runs a web server or computer .
zambian watchdog is up and runnin you haters. MMD in its 20 years rule never closed ant news outlet.whta is wrong with you PF chaps
Close it Very long overdue
Ask yourselves why ZWD personal what to remain anonymous? There is simply no freedom of press in Zambia. Most of the people on this platform don’t even understand how much power they have since the advent of cyber space. Information is available at your fingers tips through various social medias. It is very naïve that PF can even contemplate closing down a site. Only dictators with selfish motivates are scared to be put under the magnifying glass. Thanks the 21st century and social medias, there is nowhere to hide. We watching your every move, make a difference; be counted and not feared. Advocate of free press!
Press freedom shall prevail. Sata and his PF can go hump in lake