Without Information Bill, media can’t easily access relevant information-NGOCC

Non-Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Vice Chairperson Mary Yunike Mwale has acknowledged the strides taken by the media in ensuring that women’s voices are amplified in the media with almost all media houses creating space dedicated to the gender agenda.

In a statement unveiled to the media yesterday they commemorated world Press freedom day, Ms. Mwale said the absence of the Access to Information (ATI) Bill in Zambia means that the media cannot easily access relevant information that would assist in providing information to the masses.

She noted that access to information is a key component for citizens, especially women who need this information to better develop their abilities, adding that the enactment of the Access to Information Bill will create an enabling environment for the media to freely conduct their role of a watchdog for society without fear of intimidation or harassment from the powers that be.

Ms. Mwale has since urged the media to exercise their role of the watchdog by reporting responsively with sensitivity and objectivity on pertinent national issues.

For more the detail, here is the entire statement below:

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
3rd May, 2017
NGOCC COMMEMORATES WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
The Non -Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) joins the rest of the world today 3rd May 2017 in commemorating the World Press Freedom Day.

The World Press Freedom Day gives us an opportunity as a country to appreciate and reflect on the critical role that the media plays in its endeavors to inform, educate and entertain the public.

It further gives an opportunity to the media to raise the plight of women whose voices have been ignored by the male dominated media fraternity, both public and private.

As an organization, NGOCC recognizes that the media has since time in memorial been instrumental in supporting the work of Civil Society Organisations including the crusade to promote gender equity and equality in Zambia.

The media has been the medium through which the voices of women have been heard, their plight communicated and their achievements celebrated.

NGOCC takes cognizance of the strides taken by the media in ensuring that women’s voices are amplified in the media with almost all media houses creating space dedicated to the gender agenda.

As a focal point organization of the women’s movement in Zambia, we acknowledge that the media has a definitive role to play in promoting political, economic and social stability in the country.

As such, as we commemorate World Press Freedom Day, we urge the government to expedite the enactment of the long awaited Access to Information Bill.

The absence of the Access to Information (ATI) Bill in Zambia means that the media cannot easily access relevant information that would assist in providing information to the masses. Access to information is a key component for citizens, especially women who need this information to better develop their abilities.

We are of the view that the enactment of the Access to Information Bill will create an enabling environment for the media to freely conduct their role of a watchdog for society without fear of intimidation or harassment from the powers that be.
Further, we recognize that while the media has played a role in the gender discourse in our country, we still see some sections of the media that negatively objectifies women and continues to perpetuate the gender stereo type.

We call for an end to the negative portrayal of women in the media .We urge the media to be objective in their reporting especially in ensuring that ideas that they publicise contribute to unifying our country that was left divided after the 2016 General Election.
We would also like to urge the media to exercise their role of the watchdog by reporting responsively with sensitivity and objectivity on pertinent national issues.

We believe that ethical living succeeds when it is internalized. Ultimately the goal should be to avoid becoming a nation of perpetually feuding camps characterized by mutually intolerant cliques.

We should rather work towards a society distinguished by civility, tolerance, and respect for different perspectives, cultures and social attitudes.

This means accepting the idea that there is rarely no single right answer to many national issues. In our quest for political stability, economic development and good governance, Government must continue exploring and creating an environment conducive for social bonding and trust.

for/NGOCC
Mary Yunike Mwale (Ms.)
VICE-CHAIRPERSON