VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott says Government will soon offload 45 percent shares in the government-owned media institutions to the public. Dr Scott said discussions are under way to offload 45 percent shares in the three public media institutions to help make them operate independently without any political interference from the ruling party and the government.
He said this in Parliament yesterday when responding to a question from Itezhi Tezhi United Party for National Development (UPND) member of Parliament (MP) Greyford Monde during the Vice-President’s Question Time.
Mr Monde wanted to know how far Government has gone with the privatisation of the Zambia Daily Mail Limited and TimesPrintpak Zambia Limited. Dr Scott said measures are under way to reposition the three public media houses to make them operate as truly public media institutions.
He said the measures the Patriotic Front (PF) government is undertaking will help ensure the Zambia Daily Mail, Times of Zambia and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) are no longer monopolies of the ruling government.
“Discussions are underway to free the public media institutions from political interference of the ruling government so that they can inform, entertain and educate the public ethically and professionally.
“It is for this reason our government intends to offload 45 percent shares in these public media institutions so that they can be working independently,” he said. Dr Scott said once this is done, Zambians will have freedom of expression through the public media, unlike in the past when people were not given a platform to express themselves on many national issues.
He said the PF government will remain committed to ensuring that journalists in the public media operate professionally without any interference from Government. And the Media Liaison’s Committee (MLC) has welcomed Government’s plans to offload 45 percent shares in the three media institutions to the public.
MLC spokesperson Simon Mwila said the measure will help improve professionalism in the public media institutions as well as contribute effectively to the growth of the media industry in the country.
“We want to welcome the move that the PF government is intending to undertake to offload 45 percent shares in the three public media institutions. This will improve professionalism as well as allow these institutions to start operating as public media institutions.
“We also want to urge Government to consult the public media institutions before this process is concluded,” Mr Mwila said. He urged Government to protect the jobs of workers at the three public media institutions after offloading 45 percent shares to private investors.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
good move!!!
:d this the best thing you can ever do to ZNBC
about time too
Does it mean u ran out of names, U can even use GALU as a yo name or Snake for u are Evil, God will one day Punish you 4 using his name in vain.
whats the time frame? within 90 days or 360 days.we need time frame or mathematical period not just pronoucements.otherwise it sounds reasonable.
welcome and sensible. RB what were u waiting for?
This is a wonderful pronouncement and a step in the right direction. We await the deeds as action speaks louder than words.
#4, you sound like an *****! What time do you mean by time flame? Visit the stock exchange in your place, they will be able to teach you how on share trading, registration and share certification. You are only good at talking rubbish, come to South Africa, we teach a lesson.
Who is going to buy the shares? Govt still owns controlling shares and I doubt that anybody who will allowed to buy the remaining shares will have strong links to the opposition parties. The shares will be sold to a pf stooge or even somebody or people in govt using a front.
NO.6,YOU CAN JUST GO AND BUY IF YOU WANT OTHER THAN INSINUATING…….THE VEEP SAYS TO THE PUBLIC THE SHARES WILL BE OFFLOADED SO ARENT YOU ONE OF THEM?????
When will the shares be offloaded? That is the action/deeds being awaited.
Zambians please start analyzing issues and statements from these PF Mambalas/Kaponyas instead of just being excited for no reason. This is another lie just like the 90 day BS…..Zambians please start thinking! For as long there is this Lying in Chief @ State House, PF needs the public media as a propaganda tool.
Well done. Well done.
Will you allow the Board to be voted in. Or will the new shareholders just watch their money go down the drain since they are minority.
Excellent news.
Darn. I was planning to buy ZNBC :) Ah well
As for Daily and Times just sale the two papers…really pointless clinging on to them, they are better off in private hands.
Hope it is not 90days but 8years
Good movie…iyi nizi.
Good move…iyi nizi.
Some people just like to b**tch about everything, yah? The VP says the shares will be sold to the public, and yet will still have people here asking who is going to buy the shares. People, you are the public! If you have money and can afford the shares, by all means prepare to stand in line and purchase those shares so you can have a say in what goes on at Daily mail, Times of Zed, and ZNBC!
Like wise though, I am sure most of you will simply sit on your behinds and simply watch foreign entities buy up all the shares and then start moaning about how foreigners are influencing public opinion in Zambia—because this is what we are good at as Zambians—God have mercy!!!!!!!!!!!
Who cares. I dont watch ZNBC or read Times of Zambia and daily mail
# 7 unfortunately iam not near africa i live next to wall street,greenwich,connecticut.so i do understand what is mearnt by floating shares on stock exchange.and i also spent 2 years in pretoria,joburg-forest park.so mr get more exposure and u will understand what time frame means in business.read #18 ,i hope u get some sense.
They should have put the shares at 50/50 to balance the Board of Directors Appointments than these old finished recircled Board Members we keep seeing jumping from one Board to the next. With the 50/50 people will have confidence in the Management and Boards of those institution than Government maintaining the majority. They will still have a higher voting right on these Boards. Therefore, 35% in not enough to bring sanity to these institutions. By the way Lusakatimes the announced 35% not 45% as stated. Correct your headline!!!
too many mistakes ba editor ninshi? are you in a hurry to give us something new? 35% and not 45%. who will buy the shares? the public…….. and busy busy asking which country the public come from. shame upon you!
thats real democracy boyz . i dont care who rules policy matters to me;
Kindly # 3 Leave the name of the Church alone, u are just inviting a case on your self, we shall pray steadly 4 u so that God can Put a Case on you. u are a Devil, why not use a devillish name 4 your self. God Have Mercy on us.
Those are his initials, Samson Damson Aluleke(SDA)
If the PF’s Govt wish is to ensure continual control of ZNBC, Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail, govt should have announced the floatation of 51% shares to the public. This arrangement would be assumed to be fine if Govt were to be represented by level-headed presons on the 3 Boards of Directors. The PF politicians have just learnt that it is safe to preserve govt.-owned media to serve their interests as exhibited by the appointment of PF cadres to head ZNBC and print media.
FOR SURE, THIS IS MORE MONEY IN OUR POCKETS, BESIDES OUR SALARIES, ALLELUIA, AMEN PF GOVERNTMENT IS, INDEED, INTELLIGENT.
Buyers would prefer a controlling share ie over 50% as they will pump in money. We look foward to seeing how this pans out.