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MISA condemns police for locking out journalists at the airport

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Journalists assigned to cover the departure of president Rupiah Banda to Angola at Lusaka International Airport were yesterday blocked by police officers who claimed that they were instructed to keep away the media because the departure was private. Above, police officers unlock a gate to let the journalists in after senior State House officials intervened
Journalists assigned to cover the departure of president Rupiah Banda to Angola at Lusaka International Airport were yesterday blocked by police officers who claimed that they were instructed to keep away the media because the departure was private. Above, police officers unlock a gate to let the journalists in after senior State House officials intervened

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has condemned the move by police officers of barring journalists from covering President Rupiah Banda’s departure to Angola at Lusaka International Airport on Sunday.

MISA Chairperson Henry Kabwe said it is sad that the harassment of the media has continued.

Mr. Kabwe said it was important for the police to know that journalists are there only to inform the public on what is taking place in the country at any particular time.

He explained that the presence of the media at the International Airport was to let the public know what the President was thinking on matters affecting the country.

He said blocking journalists from covering the President at the airport or any other event results in blocking the public from knowing what is happening in the country.

Mr. Kabwe observed that there was need for the media to sensitize the police on the importance of the presence of journalists at any event.

He called on the police to explain why they locked out journalists from covering the departure of the President at the airport.

Journalists were on Sunday blocked by police from covering President Banda at Lusaka International Airport when he was leaving for Angola and were only allowed later.

ZANIS/

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

80 COMMENTS

  3. The police got directive from state house not to allow the journalist because Rupiah is embarrassed as he travels every other week I wonder how much money he has spent on his trips and how many hospitals or roads could be improved out of those resources he misuses. The inspector of police must be ashamed of himself for the running the police service in a very unprofessional manner. 2011 here we come we will kick them out. Kuyabebele

  4. what were the journalists supposed to cover? im sure they were not going to interview RB, they just wanted to take pictures of his plane and his benz. icipwena fye. if you ask me RB is not worth covering at all.

  5. This was meant to be an official invitation by the Angolan counterpart for the official opening of the Africa Cup games,i expected our president to sit in the excutive/diplomatic box with his counterpart,alas the Angolan president was with his female partner, and our president was in the terraces like an ordinary spectator,quiet embarrasing,maybe that why journalist were locked out,they could have asked the purpose of the visit, and only to see him in the terraces after all he was officially invited for a private visit…clueless imbecile!

  6. these chaps have displayed their highest degree of dullness and uselessness in our society..what a police force..what are journalists there for?

  7. # 5 I WAS ALSO SPOOKED, I CHECKED IN THE CUBICAL THERE WAS JUST BALLEY WITH HIS CHICK AND RB WAS JUST PERCHED IN THE STANDS. IT GOT ME SCHEMING THAT TASS EXSAY THAT CANT BE RB, SO IT WAS HIM SITTING THERE BY THE STANDS.

  8. When time for compaining these politicians needs press men and women. But ba RB please twapapata you are going to look for there services one day. To the police officers you are just doing your jod. The problem is with your Boss IG is the one to blame. I always say that time is running come 2011 wina azalila.

  9. Rupiah must refund the Zambian government for the money he used for this trip as it was a private trip or be arrested for plunder of national resources.
    Or may be the Zambian people baza mutundila come 2011

  10. You are all getting excited for nothing and your appetite for negativity towards our president is so overwhelming, so much so that you have to pick an issue even when there is none. There was simply a minor oversight on the part of the police and when this issue was brought to the attention of the relevant authorities, the journalist were allowed and it clearly says that in the report as shown in the picture. Even MISA recognised this and are not heaping blame on RB as shown by this quote

    Mr. Kabwe observed that there was need for the media to sensitize the police on the importance of the presence of journalists at any event.

    Don’t let you appetite for negativity constipate you to the point where you can’t even think or reason for yourself. This is no big deal.

  13. Iwe Chi MMD Boot what ever- you must realise that a president is a servant to the citizens of that country and as such he is open to questions and critism. If RB is sensitive to these then he is in the wrong job and must resign and look for another job chapwa

  14. #7 Jacob Zuma of south africa was also in angola, same like RB was not seen the cubical..and Jacob confirmed meeting other presidents….with this information am giving you…you must be very spooked!

    if you donot know details of any story,,, be ‘zi’

  15. Imwe naimwe ba bootlicker
    “minor oversight on the part of the police”, nonsense..
    for your own information, police work on orders,they are like robots,ask them to jump,they dont ask why?,,everyone knows what they ask,wont go further…tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock,2011,is coming wina azalila

  16. do we really care about Jacob Zuma,he’s not our president, we can only talk about our president who was officially invited to go watch the game,according to a press release from Jere at state house,more over i didnt see Zuma in the terraces,maybe his paramilitary detail blocked the cameras from zooming in on him,,,so zi..simples!

  17. # 14, EXSAY, JZ WAS NEVER IN THE STANDS BUT RB WAS CAPTURED ON CAMERA PERCHED IN THE STANDS. WHAT ARE YOU TUNING YOU?

  18. so now whats the problem? KK once stopped media coverage, so did chiluba and mwanawasa, its not a crime or a problem to block media coverages its normal, it happens everywhere even in the states, at jacob zuma’s wedding,,,everywhere!

    I don’t see the reason why people are jumping up and down about this issue,,after complaining that on ZNBC, news and information is always about RB…the man decides to block the media so Kaponya Sata and tonga chicken HH can also be covered..people start crying…want do you people want

  20. Ati “minor over sight by the Police”, Ba Chief ntwenu nabo! Our Presidents, past and present have been globtrotting since you were a toddler and today they should (for the first time) lock out journalists? Minor oversight? I propose you take a walk to the nearest book shop and buy a book titled, “Thoughts of Chairman Mao”, so that you can keep quiet for a while! Minor oversight, my a.rse!

  21. Mulekeni, I tell you when he is no longer Pres. he will want to be covered by even district news papers. Now he can afford the luxery to chose which media should cover him.

  22. #16…i thought you can put 2 and 2 together,the point is angola had invited a good number of presidents and they( angolans) could not fit them all in the cubical hence the stands….wavela chicolor!

    #15 JZ was in the stands. stop kutamba TV ya ba neighbour! you will start seeing clearly.

  23. # 19 shi muchita panono chicolor!
    you went to the states as a kaboi..thats why you cannot think and you donot even understand simple things…too much of washing dishes and underpants for bazungus..makes a man mentally lame>.lol

  25. Ndobo , Jacob Zuma wedding was a private affair thats why it was held at his private residence. The airport is not RB’s Residence especially if he is using the plane we bought. Secondly just because we were mistreated by KK and company does not make it as an acceptable standard. This is a modern world Jack. It is the information age

  26. #25 ibange libi
    The point is, whats wrong? if RB decides to have the media blocks once and having had alot of media coverages. just for a break….hes does not block the media always or everyday..why do you want to make storm in a tea cup?

  27. #25 ibange libi
    The point is, whats wrong? if RB decides to have the media blocked once and having had alot of media coverages. just for a break….hes does not block the media always or everyday..why do you want to make storm in a tea cup?

  28. #25 ibange libi
    The point is, whats wrong? if RB decides to have the media blocked once and having had alot of media coverages. just for a break….hes does not block the media always or everyday..why do you want to make storm in a tea cup?

  30. # 28 my point is , if RB wants to be private he must not use public facilities. as long as he is preident he is subject to scrutiny.

  32. #29 Sholokobangosha….mwana
    Am cool..niliche,
    but you know that to get ones points to Sata’s kaponya’s and tonga chicken followers, one needs to use their language…otherwise point noted

  34. NDOBO

    Be careful you are in South Africa and they don’t like foreigners there you may be cursing yourself with the use of bad language to the good meaning Zambia people across the global ba za kupaya ba Zule wanya

  36. NDOBO

    I will not respond to you any more obviously you are an ***** and can not read. I hope the Zulus Ba kupaye lele. By the way I don’t wash dishes or work in a nursing home as you want to believe you fool. Ask your global trotting president whom I have met and he will tell you my Job. And by the way since you seem so ignorant yes you get a masters then PHD.

  37. Can you please leave our beloved President alone. Why do you want to be making fool out of our President. Let him relax. I commend the police for the diligent work they are doing. We are all aware that some quotas are interested in embarrasing our president through Post newspaper and the like

  38. NDOBO

    I will not respond to you any more obviously you are an id io t and can not read. I hope the Zulus Ba kupaye lele. By the way I don’t wash dishes or work in a nursing home as you want to believe you fool. Ask your global trotting president whom I have met and he will tell you my Job. And by the way since you seem so ignorant yes you get a masters then PHD.

  39. # 37 the office of president is not a relaxing of especially when the country is faced with so many social and economic ills. Rupiah is president and must be covered. However when Ndobo has been killed by the Zulus we will block the media

  43. shi muchita panono, dont let this chap Ndobo sway you. I can see he is getting you worked up. just relax. This chap probably works in a call centre some where in Jhb. his salary is about R 7000.00 tops. He is sharing an apartment with other Zambians. Today his boss is away so he is abusing the internet.

  44. #41/42
    The point under discussed is that the press was blocked from covering Rupiah before he left for Angola in an effort for him to sneak out of the country. Honestly we could care less about were they sat him.

  47. But mutukwana ba nyamata!! Iwe Ndobo? Which fool forgot to close your cage at that mental assylum? Finding you will be another issue now. I told them to always double check and ensure that your cage was shut and locked, but alas! You are loose! Wechipuba we!
    Shi mu chita Panono
    Don’t let lunatics get to you.

  48. RB has done a lot in this country despite the short period he has stayed in Plot 1. We really appreciate RB and will always rally behind him

  49. okay…okay am a taking a breather, life is too short and sweet to be abused, don’t sell the country to sata’s kaponyas( even those kaponyas in the States who have masters degrees and studying to have PHD) and tonga chicken followers….thats the point…i rest my case

  54. #51 dudelove, shani mani! Achilamo Ndobo. We cant have such characters on the blog. Mental institutions are meant to keep chaps like him locked up firmly. Nga afuma, these are the end results.

  55. Ba Moze,shani muka’amba,,
    iliko lelo,,,they are coming from the woodworks mudala,and they all seem to have the same kind of language,you read the first sentence and its like they all copy from one another,elo lwanya

  58. #48
    Assistant MMD Chief Boot Licker –
    YES HE HAS DONE A LOT FOR YOUR POCKET AND ONE ROAD IN MALAMBO LEADING TO AN ANIMAL FARM. WHAT HAS HE DONE? POINT IT OUT FOR US TO SEE IT. HERE ALL ROADS ARE NOW IMPASSIBLE AND NOW A GANG OF MARKET MAFIA CALLED ZANAMA ARE NOW A WING OF OP. YOU CALL THAT DOING A LOT?

  59. #50 Dear john..am still here, #54..Ba Moze be your own man donot be a tonga chicken getting rides from other people’s writting..address your comments to me…ala
    LT you have delected my comment,,yes i used the ‘C’ word its wrong and its not right but others on the blog have also used the ‘fF’ words in their comment and you have not delected anything of theirs..yashani??

  60. Tambanikoni bola banyama
    Live Footbal online Zambia Vs Tunisia
    myp2p.euforwardslashbroadcast.php?matchid=61823&part=sports

  62. #48, Yes your RB has done a lot of damage in the short period as president:-
    He has turned the MMD into UNIP.
    He has promoted tribalism, nepotism and rampant corruption
    He has plundered resources, taking 3 aircraft on a meaningless trip to Kalabo
    He has without authority given a piece of land in NWP to Mswati

    He has done so much damage and I can go on and on. Come 2011 and he will be sent packing to his farm.

  63. Smoothcriminal
    Am fine mudala. Naizanda mudala. To make matters worse, ama key nayaluba!! kanshi ni field day lelo, Yangu.
    #59 Nom de shani uko
    Rb has even given marketeers title deeds! Kwaliba?

  66. The Police Service could not have just gone & locked up,they were ordered to do so.It is normal for journalists to cover the trips of the President whether official or personal because the nation employs The President.Once you go into power,you are a ”people’s person” so nothing private,Banda has to be covered whether he likes it or not.

  67. Which tonga chicken is in politics Mr NDOBO sir in fact I had a chat with your HR Manager there yesterday although he appears to suppot you because you come from the same area,but unfortunately I have agreed with your girl friend to waite for me at Livingstone post office on friday I want to go out and enjoy myself mwe because last week she approached me and claim that you do not satisfy her only one round you are tired, and so i agreed to take over but when I wire her on friday @ Bundu’s please claim responsibility.

  68. #61, obviously you are Ndobo! Am not impressed with your childish antics. LT, can you please trace the source of that chap and ban him from the site? Am disgusted. this is why some of us dont blog regularly.

  69. Who begot you people who insult like that! #61 and the rest, This is meant for constructive critism so that per adventure things improve. Mwe bantu we will be scared to be reading some of these comments.

  70. who is henry Kabwe? That ugly boy with rough features. He is queit a dull person and has no journalism experience. A few months ago he was searching for job at ministry of information but was rejected. The minister who he was crying for a job will issue a statement soon. Just wait

  71. it shows how MMD cadres are so shallow such that they can’t even be ashamed of primitrive politics that we declined in 1991. First and foremost, RB was not going to Angola as a private person but as the republican president of Zambia without this he wouldn’t have been invited. Secondly his travel arrangements i.e security, contigent plans and allowances for him and his entourage is from Zambians and it is for these reason Zambians deserve to know his movements. They idea of private travel is nuisance and uncalled for unless he is afraid of people calling him globaltrotter. Take a look at Malawian president he has reduced un necessary trips to save money for the country. Its like fibwela mochedwa to our president. This is a man who is exposed but why trips after trips? selfiness and be

  72. #68 Ba moze.. well before you start crying my boy, look at your comment #54, i just answer to that, thats all i did. Don’t throw small stoneif you have a small heart living in a thin glassed small house.

    #67 Mr peace maker sir… your story makes good reading for grade 5 children, do you write children stories books? well you look like such one fella.
    which tonga chicken is politics? answer: HH..the guy does not believe in himself. Compare this tonga chicken HH to legend Lt mazoka(RIP) you will see what am taking about….Mazoka was a real tonga bull with pedigree, not this chicken that is running around in circles with thugs

  73. #68 Ba moze.. well before you start crying my boy, look at your comment #54, i just answer to that, thats all i did. Don’t throw small stones if you have a small heart living in a thin glassed small house.

    #67 Mr peace maker sir… your story makes good reading for grade 5 children, do you write children stories books? well you look like such one fella.
    which tonga chicken is politics? answer: HH..the guy does not believe in himself. Compare this tonga chicken HH to legend Lt mazoka(RIP) you will see what am taking about….Mazoka was a real tonga bull with pedigree, not this chicken that is running around in circles with thugs

  75. Contd: aware of Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) Mr Banda especialy fat people. Blood clot due to long flights kills more than stroke and by the time your ruin down UTH will know it will be too late kindly reduce your appetite for trips they needs you to solve or attend to their problems. Kunda is damaging you right, left and centre because you are doing your job. No wonder you don’t want the media to cover your constant trips.Another question is it to do with trying to accumulate allowances due to the USA $1.6 billion in reserves? Serve the people before you get all the reserves.

  76. Pafwenamwine
    Wanisekesa! namufulwa sana na ba Banda, aini? Lol! Iyo, waponta boyi. Ati shani, deep vein thrombosis? hahahahaha!!

  77. I go away on holiday, only to come back to new terms on the blogg. HH is a tonga chicken, no longer a Bull, that has made my day, you are very funny guys, but lets reeduce on the insults, and lets be tolerant of divergent views. But in the midst of all this heavy storm brewing here, I find laughter in the term “Tonga Chicken running around in circles”….Ndobo you quite something!!!

  78. Those cops were merely following instructions from the above. When there is news blackout on the head of state to them it is hardworking. The person ocupying Presidency does not travel on private matters. Its all public affairs and the general populace need to know. Shame of Top cops. Any way their days are numbered.

  80. Every where in the world even here in the states the President may decide block the Press. This is not news KK, FJT and LPM have all blocked the Press before. Please, Please let us talk about development not RB’s Angola trip, it’s a waste of time.

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