Investigative journalism requires courage and integrity-Chibamba Kanyama

ZAMBIA National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Director General Chibamba Kanyama says investigative journalism requires courage and integrity and has since called on media practitioners to change the status quo.

Mr Kanyama said it is through investigative reporting that policy makers would be made accountable to their actions.

“What we see now is lack of passion, motivation, and people failing to leave a legacy as well as failing to sacrifice stories are appreciated by the public,” Mr Kanyama said.

Mr Kanyama said investigative reporting should not only focus on scandals but also other issues concerning the environmental and failure to meet obligations.

He cited the indiscriminate disposing of waste and the impact on the environment and human beings as some of the stories that could be investigated with less legal implication like scandals which required huge resources.

Mr Kanyama said this on Thursday afternoon at the luncheon and screening of the movie “All the President’s me” during a panel discussion in honour of the World Press Freedom at the US Embassy.
US Embassy Charge’d’Affaires David J Young and Times Printpak Managing Director Godfrey Malama were part of the panel.

Mr Kanyama, however, observed that investigative journalism required substantial investment of resources which most of the media houses could afford because there were operating on shoe-string budgets thus ended up with straight forward stories.

Meanwhile, Mr Kanyama said there is need to train media practitioners in mature and responsible management of information in the wake of the Access to Information bill.

He said the Bill was an important tool that could promote media freedom but if not handled properly, it could be a danger weapon to society.

In the same vein, Mr Malama said the country needed the law in order to contribute the development and wellbeing of society.

He said the country needed the Access to Information Bill in order to promote transparency and accountability but some media practitioners needed to be responsible.

“We need the law but the level of responsibility is very cardinal,” Mr Malama said.

Mr Young, who was concerned with cadre violence especially, attacks on the media, reiterated that media freedom was important because it was a fundamental right towards health democracy.