The Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) has called on LAZ to dialogue with it over LAZ’s comments about ZNBC and the government controlled media’s biased news coverage in the run up to the elections. LAZ has threatened to sue ZNBC over its biased and unfair news coverage. PAZA said it represented the news media and has to be consulted over these concerns.
Earlier this month LAZ president Musa Mwenya alleged that ZNBC is in complete conflict with the law and contrary to the provision of the ZNBC act Chapter 154 of the laws of Zambia.He said that other political players are not given equal coverage adding that at times,ZNBC broadcasted libel and slander against MMD political foes.He further accused ZNBC that it is currently operating without a board of directors, a thing he said compromises the entire operations of the institution.
There has been public outcry at the skewed news coverage by ZNBC TV where MMD cadres are given unlimited coverage to attack opposition parties and campaign for a vote for MMD and RB; ministers in MMD regalia ostensibly inspecting “development projects” ( not necessarily within their portfolios) across the country but openly asking the electorate to vote for MMD and attacking opposition parties; political rallies or statements by opposition parties or persons defecting from MMD to opposition parties are not featured or at best only negatively reported on.
Is PAZA really that blind? Who heads this dead organization anyway? LAZ is within its right to sue ZNBC without consulting anybody if they feel that Laws are being violated with impunity! PAZA should simply keep quiet and stay impotent as this seems to be what they are good at.
Nice one there LAZ. At least one sane organisation left in Zed.
dora siliya herself in her capacity as mmd spokes person and as education minister confirmed that znbc was covering them alone because it was their time, them who is PAZA to come and despute that? any normal person can see that znbc is highly biased in its coverage of news. let LAZ sue these id.iots, so that we stop paying the tv levy which is only benefiting the mmd and its rb
PAZA also should be sued by LAZ .
THE LAW ITSELF CAN BE BRIBED. PLEASE LAZ SUE THEM BEFORE THEY BRIBE YOU. DON’T EVEN DARE TO LISTEN OR WAIT TO CONSULT PAZA. THE’VE ALREADY BEEN PAID.
PAZA has no members. There are only two executive members as members. They are discredited lot who should have acted long ago.
LT…who are you quoting from PAZA? Did they say this in press release,interview or during a radio or television disussion forum? When was it?
Now let us be objective for Mother Zambia; Is LAZ intending to sue ZNBC because it is using tax payers money or simply because it is viewed as a biased media outlet?
If LAZ is intending to sue ZNBC just because of biased reporting then LAZ is biased too. Because for how long have we seen biased reporting at The POST newspaper and they have not Sued the it. If their cause is merely justice then they are failing in their endeavors, unles their more to it.
I smell a rotten rat in LAZ, and the need to be careful to protect their ethical commitments otherwise they can lose it. If their case is purely based on the fact that ZNBC is public and uses Tax payers money for its work, then I would agree with their view that their concern not injustice, because it has been left free at the Post.
What is it about the difference between state and private media that so many people here just don’t get?
The Post is a privately owned paper and can therefore decide on its own editorial policy. ZNBC, Times of Zambia, and Daily Mail on the other hand are paid for with public money and have a legal obligation to provide unbiased coverage. If MMD wants a mouthpiece to print only good stories about its work and bad stories about everyone else, they should go out and get their own newspapers or TV station – not use the public outlets that we are all paying for.
You sir, are a butthole! This question has been answered so many times and yet you are still ignorant. You are untrainable and whoever granted you access to a computer should revoke it
Let the PF led LAZ go ahead in suing ZNBC. What they should know is that ZNBC is a public meadia mandated to air Gov’t programmes and that is just what they are doing. Unfortunately PF insults can not be aired but developmental programmes. We can not live in insults but should see that the Gov’nt is performing. What King Cobra was in Gov’nt, ZNBC was not biaised because it was favouring the Conbra. The Cobra was always on ZNBC threatening to close the Post and now that the Post are favouring PF, they are a good media, what a hypocrisy?
its very difficult for you to see and discern that this retrogressive to our nation, if the media has been abused before that does not mean that abuse should continue. What development programmes are you talking about anyway? or it ignorance at its best?
PAZA have not said they do not support LAZ position, they are simply urguing dialogue with them. I would expect them not to be sidelined if they are the ‘responsible’ for the press. Nothing wrong, just reminding LAZ to follow appropriate procedures…
It is the other way round PAZA shud consult LAZ , is PAZA blind not to see what nonsense Zambians are subjected to on ZNBC the MMD broadcaster? Hungry mouths like Lifwekelo,Chifire and Lungu are nauseating people every day. Piece of advise , do not watch ZNBC when eating you will vomit. Just the sight of the three hungry musketeers Lifwekelo, Chifire and Lungu makes me lose appetite no wonder I have not watched ZNBC for the last six months. PAZA what is PAZA and where is it found in Zambia.How many members does PAZA have?
@fine:- i cant believe you can sink so low man. When did the post turn into the public media? I that its a private media that runs independetly without government funds. Hey man, post is owned by a man called Fred Mmembe who your rb keeps on aresting. Grow up dude. Wasekesha nomwana wandi grade five sure
This is disappointing coming from PAZA because even the deaf and blind know that ZNBC has gone to the dogs….or is the dogs that have gone to ZNBC??
its shocking how the entireZNBC personnel could have it so wrong and how we have allowed it to happen in our country. Please join us on Facebook “stop public media abuse” and map up a strategy to stop this abuse!
@Fine! & Miss:
You guys need to get your facts straight. THE POST Newspaper is not a public media entity supported by public funds, or governed by Public Media Legal Instruments (ZNBC act Chapter 154 of the laws of Zambia). I haven’t read the act personally, but I am pretty sure Private Media does not fall under this act.
The Post or any other private media in Zambia survives on advertisements and subscriptions, not levies. So if you don’t like The Post, please don’t support them by buying their newspaper. But ZNBC, Daily Mail, Times of Zambia, and the like, are obliged by law to cover all divergent views and segments of Zambian society. This is why even people belonging to Opposition Parties are forced to pay TV levy. ZNBC is not an MMD media wing, it is a public institution!
Paza if you are really concerned about the goings in at ZNBC and the papers you should have been the ones to consult LAZ so that they advise whether or not ZNBC is operating outside the provisions of the ZNBC Act. LAZ should consult you in what capacity? Are you mandated to ensure that the ZNBC Act is complied with if so join hands with LAZ in there intended suit against ZNBC. Dont just yap for the sake of it.
Fine do not argue like a Kid. The difference between ZNBC and POST is that you have a choice not to or to buy it as the money is yours. But for ZNBC my brother we are forced to pay K3,000 . If there was a way they could disconnect anyone who fails to pay ZNBC many would have not bothered to be disconnected as there is nothing to miss
#7 & #8, you are totally misguided and gravely myopic…Public and Private are two very different entities and can not be mentioned or compared in the same breath. If you’ve lived in the US or even UK you should know that private news organisations have their own preferences e.g Fox News for Republicans, CNN leaning more toward the Democrats etc…Public news organisations however, do not have this luxury as both by law and obligation (due to funding by the public) they are mandated to cover all public issues fairly and equitably. Taxes and Levies know no political colours and inclinations hence LAZ’s stance. Sanity needs to come back to ZNBC because even in UNIP, the MMD party was being covered and their rallies televised live on TV.
I send money to mother so that she can enjoy watching Tv, from the 3000pin that she pays every month through her Zesco bills.Surprisingly,everytime i call her and ask whats on TV,she tells me its been ages since she watched TV coz all they talk about is mmd this mmd that.She says,she feels like she is living in the UNIP days.My mother is almost 70yrs old, and if she could tell the difference between good coverage and bad,then people like Miss,really have something wrong in their heads.
# 15,
you say, “dont argue like a kid”. who told you am not a kid??
LOL…… but even kids aspire to be like grown-ups, right?
Anyway, I think the point is made – you cannot compare the editorial policies of the Post with public media. If MMD wants a mouthpiece to print only good stories about its work and bad stories about everyone else, they should get their own private newspaper and not use the state-owned media that we all pay for.
Fine you got it right, they say what is good for the gander must be good for the geese too. the Post has also lost it. if the question is that the public media is using tax payers money to report, then i get the point but if its that they are biased then there is no point because all media houses have taken sides in zambia. the post has really lost it by taking sides with PF and not covering the UPND. at least if they covered all the opposition parties i would say they are giving the uncovered coverage
#15 Yambayamba,
I always enjoy reading your mature, factual well thought contributions and I am sure that even the many MMD beneficiaries on this blog support your views deep down their brainwashed hearts.
public media is for all zambians, post is for an individual who has the right to choose how to run it and how to cover its news coverage, what is so difficulty for you mmd and upnd vuvuzelas to understand?
PAZA is led by a chap who can be bought so what do you expect from them! He Works for ZNBC so he can’t go against his bosses!
Is it possible to just close ZNBC? can lawyers put an injunction to restrain znbc from broadcasting.Please people take adverts to muvi so that znbc can naturally die.
iwe chi FINE the post is private and can report whatever they like. ZNBC is funded by tax payers not by the Mmd makandi yobe.
#12 Mr Lamfras and #26 Imbwa – the role of the media is to inform and educate with impartiality. Just because The Post is privately owned does not mean that they should not subscribe to ethical standards – that is why Rupert Murdoch is in problems — who is Mmembe compared with Rupert?
Leave “Fine”, alone, he lives on “Lutuku”. So most of the time he is detached from reality, bless his cotton socks with the big toes pocking out of them!!!
WE SHOULD STOP PAYING TV LEVY FULL STOP. LET THE MMD PAY since its their time and there are the only ones benefiting. Why shoul I be forced to pay K3,000???
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