Journalists are being denied opportunity to ask President Hakainde Hichilema random questions. For the sake of free media, it is important to mention it.
At the end of 2023 President Hakainde Hichilema held a press conference at Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka. During questions time, journalists asked the president questions that appeared unexpected to him. Before answering the questions, Hichilema protested.
“Thank you very much! Yah, I have to, to smile. I think is important that I smile. Ah…am not very sure, I thought the rules of engagement were that the questions will be around the subject. Because that is why people end up writing totally different things and leaving the message of the press briefing unattended, I thought that was the rule of engagement that you gave.
So, I will suggest colleague that everything has its own time. This is the time for us to report to the nation what we have been doing in the last one year and before. So, it will be helpful to fucus on that, the next quarter maybe you can ask other questions you want, but this quarter, hah, it is so important that you rest in the issues that we raised. It is part of the discipline; it is part of the professionalism to do things like that.” The president added.
But because you have asked the questions, I will answer them, since I am your servant, but for the next questions please focus on a lot of things that require interrogation here, that we have raised. Hay, journalists, let us not focus on super-flash issues, perceptions, views. Kaunda used to call it kachepa in the morning, kachepa at lunch, kachepa in the evening and that is what rude the day. I remember I was still young when Kaunda used to say that,” appearing unhappy and disappointed, president Hichilema protested.
Since then, before taking questions, Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana who is most of the time Hichilema’s press conferences director of ceremonies, makes sure he reminds journalists to stick to what has been addressed by the president.
“Remember the rule. Please stick to the issues that his excellence has addressed. Osati kuwela kuno natumapulani twanu, tuma questions ngawafumya kuni (don’t come here with your plans, asking questions from where no one can tell). Come and ask what has been addressed,” Thabo Kawana reminded and ordered journalists before accommodating questions during Hichilema’s Wednesday June 5th 2024 press briefing.
On Tuesday June 25th 2024 President Hichilema held a follow-up press briefing at State House. Again, director of ceremonies couldn’t hesitate to remind journalists to strict questions to what Hichilema addressed.
“We have come to the point where we allow questions. We shall take them in set of three, please remember the rule. The president has been very clear, let us strict our questions to what the president has addressed,” as usual, Kawana advised and ordered journalists before accommodating a set of first three questions.
“So, we can have the first set of three,” he continued. “We stick to the issues.” President Hichilema interrupted to remind journalists again. “Yes, we stick to the issues, only what the president has addressed,” director of ceremonies said in approval before finally allowing questions.
There is nothing wrong with reminding journalists to stick to what has been presented or addressed as it is a common rule in presentations. However, because the president has protested against journalists asking unexpected questions before, doing that undermines free media. It reminds journalists of the protest and very possible affect performance; ask only questions that would please the president, which doesn’t amount to free media.
For the sake of free media, which is a pillar of every strong democracy, because President Hichilema has protested against being asked random questions before, director of ceremonies should stop reminding journalists to stick to what the president has addressed.
Journalists in Zambia deserve unlimited freedom to ask questions.
By Venus N Msyani
At one time it was said that he writes his own questions which are then passed on to those working in the public media houses. Indeed, our President sometimes looks like he’s programed. He looks completely lost when asked random questions, but that’s what interviews or pressers are all about. Pertinent matters that government elects not to comment about are brought out by journalists during question time. In fact, Parliament must begin to allow the President to take questions each time he addresses the house. When members debate his speech it’s somebody else that takes questions! Aikona
In every democracy it should happen. The President needs to be clued up with all major issues going on. The journalist will mostly ask questions on current controversial issues for which his advisors should have told him. I would nt expect a journalist to ask about a bridge washed away i Manyinga district..
@Skylab
Also include Zesco , corruption , annch money at all road blocks
Also can the ask for contract of the dual carriage way to be made public as I still cannot work out the 1.2 Billion to 650 Million ???
@Skylab did you see how clued up the losing UK premier Sunesh whatever was? He would coherently answer any question thrown at him. No complaint about how toengage bla bla bla. At least our colonisers’ presidents are always made to do their homework. Ours think State House is an amusement park in which to relax.
NOT ONLY JOURNALISTS BUT US VOTERS
I JUST WISH HE WOULD MOVE AND TAKE OVER THE MIN OF FINANCE AND LET SOMEONE ELSE LEAD THE NATION
I am not surprised, hh owns everything, he is all in one person. hh is all ministers, all spokes persons, all ministries and the best president of all times..kikikiki..bwafya
Why does he have Hamasaka? What for? Free paychecks to pals?
Uja ndani chipuba
First Msyani must distinguish between a press briefing and a press conference.Then he must understand that in a vindictive political environment like Zambia with a lot of loud mouths like Deja Foool.the President must be steered as much as possible from speaking/responding off-the cuff. Political gaffes quickly become national issues in which dullards would even demand a psychological evaluation of the President
What a lame excuse. Who asked him to stand for President of ” a vindictive political environment like Zambia with a lot of loud mouths like Deja Vu?”
They want to continue milking him by shielding him from the truth.
“But because you have asked the questions, I will answer them, since I am your servant, but for the next questions please focus on a lot of things that require interrogation here, that we have raised. ”
Is there anything wrong here?
Yes! Why should he direct his audience on what questions to ask. Is he so unprepared he is scared of random questions? Presidency or Politics isnt a hollywood script that is rehearsed for the camera
The President is right, when you call a meeting to address a particular issue why should you have “journalist” raising matters that are not pertinent to topics raised. And their questions are usually silly and time wasting.
Everyone knows that Zambian “journalists” specialise in tittle-tattle.
Let’s take this example, if a presentation is about Computer Science, would you be taking questions on cooking or carpentry because someone feels that it is a topic they would like to raise. It would be totally irrelevant.
The thing is that many of you do not understand the concept of doing things in an orderly manner.
“Doing things in an orderly manner is for the barracks. And for North Korea. We are a democracy. Just prepare your presidents
Well, in every press briefing by the president or any minister’s press meeting question needs to be asked by the press on the aspect that has’nt been covered and also it’s the benefit of members of the public to know what is happening of the ground thats why as for our leader or leaders. ppl should not need to know answers through media speculation instead we should get verbal answers from our leaders to understand the sitaution around us!! isn’t not that simple surely?
I do agree with the government for once.
The government ought to be very broad. Just look at its ministries. When the “CEO” of that government holds a press conference he should expect to be asked about all his ministries whether they were in his speech or not.
Being ready to answer questions on every one of his ministries is being on top of the project he is leading namely UPND’s manifesto. Otherwise he is being lazy or he cant walk and chew gum at the same time. For the fourth estate everything under the sun in their country is game!