The opposition NDC has charged that it is extremely regrettable that media freedom in Zambia under the PF administration is under intense and severe threat.
NDC Secretary General Mwenya Musenge stated that the political environment for journalists in Zambia is not conducive and slowly degenerating.
Mr Musenge said the media environment is becoming unsafe and increasingly hostile lately.
“The Edgar lungu regime will do everything possible to mime, gag, harras, manipulate and intimidate the private media. Media outlet’s that are featuring opposition political groupings have been misunderstood and are now targets of state manipulation and victimization,” Mr Musenge said.
He charged that private media outlets are now perceived enemies of the state.
“The PF regime is jittery over its growing unpopularity and will do anything possible to ensure that media outlets covering independent voices are ridiculed at every cost and opportunity. As NDC, we are disappointed that the PF regime has implored medieval tactics and attempts to try and manipulate and operations of private media houses. Furthermore, we find it absurd that this regime wants to fight proxy political battles using the media.”
He charged that uselesss, baseless and careless attempts by the PF regime to gag, harass, intimidate the private press in carrying out their duties are nothing but a violation of media rights and freedoms.
“As NDC we take strong exception to what has happened in luapula province today. The decision by state police to curtail a radio interview featuring NDC Consultant in Mansa is purely absurd and an act of desperation. Police in Mansa have not given an valid reason on why Dr. Kambwili’s interview on k FM was stopped.”
Mr Musenge said the only reason police have advanced is that the NDC had no police permit to warrant the sanctioning of the said radio interview.
“This is ridiculous, flimsy and nothing but an affront on media rights and freedoms. Journalists do not need permission from police for them to conduct interviews. Dr. Kambwili was on k FM radio to sale the ideologies of the NDC and nothing else.”
Mr Musenge observed that the Electoral Commission of Zambia ECZ has opened campaigns in 16 wards where local Government elections are being held countrywide.
“Since the political campaigns are open, there is no need for state police to harass Dr. Kambwili for offering a radio interview. Its unfortunate that the Lungu regime is going out of extremes to ensure that Dr. Kambwili is persecuted in every thing he is doing. As NDC, we want to warn the PF to leave out the private media in their political skirmishes.”
And MISA Zambia has reminded Police to Stop Intimidating the media.
MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale has since condemned what she called overzealous police officers who raided KFM Radio Station and stopped a live paid for programme featuring NDC Consultant Chishima Kambwili.
“MISA Zambia still recalls that in August last year Police again summoned Muchinga FM station manager Martin Phiri for questioning after he featured Dr Chishimba Kambwili on the station’s popular Red Carpet. These acts are uncalled for and pure intimidation of both the media and citizens from expressing their views on issues affecting them,” Ms Mwale said.
“MISA Zambia is saddened that today at 11:49 hours, police forced their way into the on-air studio and fished out Dr Kambwili whom they led to their Station for questioning before releasing him. As MISA, we feel that, Police are now acting unilaterally and going overboard through acts which are not even done by bodies like the IBA who are mandated atleast to regulate the conduct of the broadcast houses,” she said.
Ms Mwale said It is disturbing that Police did not even indicate why they were stopping the programme nor explain whose instructions they were following when they stopped the programme.
“We therefore demand that government through its Ministry of Home Affairs should come out clear and clean as to whether the conduct of Police has its blessings. We say so because the PF government preaches a hands-off the media policy which is now being contradicted by the actions of Police which is rendering their utterances as mere rhetoric or political statements,” she said.
But Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo has advised MISA Zambia to take time to understand an issue before rushing to condemn the police.
“We wish to remind Misa Zambia that media freedom does not entail being disrespectful to people in authority and showering disparaging remarks on people in authority or any other person. Misa Zambia is rather too quick to condemn police action before fully understanding why the police acted in the manner they did. We advise Misa to first understand the issue at hand before commenting on an issue,” Ms Katongo said.
She said there has been a lot of people from different political parties both ruling and opposition who have been appearing on various programs and police have not stopped such program.
“The media also have ethics which should be observed by all media practitioners and have a responsibility to guide the interview,” she said.
This guy is back???? Hahaha.
ESTHER IS MORE REASONABLE THAN HELLEN: THAT SAID, THE ENTRANCE OF THE SO CALLED NDC INTO THE POLITICAL ARENA ENTAILS VENGEANCE AND SLANDEROUS POLITICAL RHETORIC . YES, NAME CALLING AND SMEAR CAMPAIGNS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE THE BREACH OF PEACE. LET THICK CK CONCENTRATE ON HOW HE WILL ENRICH THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE’S LIVES.
===========================
We cannot allow politician’s to sow the seeds of discontent in minds of the innocent electorate. People will judge the PF for the lack development in needy areas not by listening to disgruntled, hatefilled rants. I feel sorry for thick CK. Yes, he cannot be allowed to insult and malign the presidency. Let’s get real ladies and gentlemen. Esther has shown more maturity than Hellen in this article.
CK IS A FAKE
WHO IS HE FOOLINGB Y CLAIMING HE IS STILL PF AND YET ATTACKS ITS PRESIDENT 24/7 EVEN IN HIS DREAMS??
EXPEL HIM FROM PF NOW!!!
It’s PF are threatened….
Kambwili lishilu with Grandiose ideas, he’s not funny, he’s SCHIZOPHRENIC AND ZAMBIANS NEED TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS.
I have said it before and I will say it again. The quality of the so called journalist lives much to be desired. Journalism has code of ethics and should guide an interviewee once he gets off track. The current journalists are the ones promoting hate speeches and insults which are against their ethical standards. Ck even the time he was in pf was the only one who to abuse the media. Magufuli closed all private media houses and Tz is still a democracy today.
Is Kambwili and Musenge boyfriend and girlfriend? and when they differ Kambwili will claim that Musenge proposed love to him..these Politicians awe mwandi
Why is stating a fact that the president stole money from a widow and was subsequently debarred an insult?
THESE GUYS CANNOT REMEMBER HOW CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI USED TO BREATH THREATS ON THE MEDIA, THE POST, EVERYDAY. NOW THEY ARE EVEN ABLE TO ENJOY UNFETTERED LIBERTIES TO INSULT THE PRESIDENT. AND YOU CAN, WITHOUT SHAME, CLAIM THAT MEDIA FREEDOM IS UNDER THREAT…..MY FOOT.
Says Kambwili, who used the same media repression against opposition when he was a P.F official. KAMBWILI WOULD THEN BOAST, I WILL MAKE SURE ALL THESE MEDIA HOUSES THAT DON’T SUPPORT P.F, ARE SHUT DOWN AND I NEVER FAIL ANY CRUSADE I START.
Manje chawamila galu ku Luna munzi?
In fact just paint these media houses/ radio stations in Police colours, or like a courtroom, & Kambwili will FAINT & avoid going near them, problem solved.
Very funny…
We have always said the corrupt theif lungu even suspects his own shadow…..lungu how far are you going to go……smash radio stations, deport people, arrest people, dodge and block any vote of confidence in you ?? Send you thugs to brutalise anyone who opposes you ?
Is that the route thick CK has chosen to dismantle the monster he helped create? Insults and name calling has never provided any checks and balances. Police got to do what police got to do. Flash Insulting CK out. CK cannot match SATA.
And deporting people ? And smashing radio stations when UPND or MMD are on ?
Media freedom was not under threat when CK was information minister and threatening journalists. Now that he is no longer information minister he wants to talk about media freedom being threatened. In other words, media freedom is only threatened when CK says it. Great political genius! Zambia being zambia, a man like CK still has no shortage of followers.
I agree 100 percent with what the NDC says. Media freedom is under threat. But it has been under threat since the PF took over and Kambwili didn’t bother to tell us of the threat.
Iam very sure if NDC takes over media will still be under threat. President Kambwili will be persecuting journalists and sending police to stop broadcasts of opposition leaders. DeadNBC will be getting their scripts edited from State House like now. We need a new generation of politicians to liberate us from archaic politicians.
YOU WON’T HIDE UNDER ANY MICROPHONE TO MAKE MALICIOUS AND SEDITIOUS HATE SMEARS AND BE ALLOWED TO GO ON AND ON WITHOUT BEING CHECKED. THICK CK’S POLITICAL MANNERISMS ARE A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. BEING TOLERATED FOR SO LONG SHOULD NOT BE MISCONSTRUED AS WEAKNESS BY THE VICTIM.
Meanwhile thats not the way to dismantle the monster he helped create. Policy is what counts not insults and name calling. For insults hauled in the direction of State House, whose duty is it to protect the president? MISA has not been helpful. Indeed, freedom of speech and expression “does not entail being disrespectful to people in authority and showering disparaging remarks on people in authority or any other person. ” l am tired of thick CK’s CORRUPTION and INSULTS.
Ck called lungu a corrupt thief , has lungu sued ?
Kindly promote civility.
The same insulting CK said that you Tongas can vote for a stone, do you realise how insulting this was? We condemned him. We shall not allow politics that get to hate others by ill-speech. Get real.
Stop lying , you PF and lungu congratulated him…..
Mwenya Musenge and Chishimba Kambwili are just tribalists! What they don’t want is Inonge Wina being Vice president! That’s where the problem is! Including Ka Kalaba!
Awe kalaba wamubepesha fye
The guy does not know the difference between ‘maime’ and ‘mime’ – Nuffield said
That’s why we will keep on going in circles. Can Kambwili define the meaning MEDIA FREEDOM with a clear and free mind?
Tell us how kambwili insulted lungu in mansa on that radio station ??……..by saying lungu fears the impeachment motion ???
You’re in UK so don’t comment on things you just get from gutter media. Even today your Upnd candidate for Kamuchanga instead of just campaigning he resorted name calling. He even promises to develop the township as if the money will come from his pocket.
Media houses who allow politicians to insult each other should be banned from giving live interviews. We need progressive ideas noy insulting language
Saying lungu fears the impeachment motion is not insulting
PLEASE SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM….FROM BIG OFFICES TO NOTHING
THEY ARE BARELY FITTING IN THE SMALL OFFICE BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE.
Rant Freedom!
Taste your own medicine Bwana CK and stop seeking public sympathy! You started the rot when you were Minister for Misinformation!
I’m not sure Kambwili is capable of learning any lesson. That said, he can get elected as president regardless. Zambia is not a normal country.
Thank you, Esther. Helen should be in the forefront upholding media ethics yet she is behaving like the same unethical media everyone is complaining about, issuing careless statements and alarming the situation. Media freedom is being abused in Zambia and corrupt characters like Kambwili are using it to launder their image by twisting truths and preying on the gullible. Kambwili registered fraudulent companies to plunder money from Zambians and he shouldn’t use the media to distract the people from his crimes.
And lungu defrauded a widow…..
Why do Zambians think by telling the truth and exposing crimes committed by their president is “insulting” their corrupt leader? How do you expect people will be informed about their leaders and what is happening in the country. Is Lungu the new “Kumulu Lesa, Panshi Lungu”? What is wrong with your ignorance imwe mwefibantu imwe kanshi? It seems Zambians’ brains are harder than rocks. Please start thinking, it is really really free.
Funny thing is people are supporting Kambwili’s insults but have not asked themselves what Kambwili would do for them if by chance he became president. Is he going to feed you on insults. Would he continue insulting Lungu at every State House briefing? Unfortunately leaders who have decent substance don’t attract as much attention as those who only shout invective statements. They become heroes because they dress down people we hate. If that’s the way to becoming president then Zambia is doomed. Whether you love or hate your neighbour, you should protect them from people wishing them harm.
Mention the insults. No one wants Kambwili to do anything for them. The is Lungu stealing and perpetuating corruption. You are just short of what to say to defend the worst criminal to walk Zambian street. Lungu is worse than Spoiler Kapenda. Lungu through stealing and corruption, schools and universities are suffering. Hopspitals are death traps. Unemployment is over 80%. 500,000 jobs he promised, only one was provided, his. Zambia now is the hungriest country. Are these insults?
80% unemployment has been there even before PF took over. If you sell the mines and parastatals who were the biggest employers where do you think people will work? Employ them at your house if you’re so concerned.
Esther Katongo should also understand that media freedom does not mean that people from the ruling party should insult freely opposition leaders on public media. A number of times we have heard pf cadres insulting oppisition leaders during radio interviews but programmes have gone unterrupted by police simply because the interviewee is favouring the pf thugs. The police must learn to exercise equity in the way they handle matters. Kambwili was marely expressing his views on matters that are affecting the people of Zambia. Shame on police
this is what u get in return, Mulongoti and kambwili attacked media houses as information ministers!! see now how fast they are running to the same media, kambwili imagine if u had closed watch dog and other social media, who wud covering ur fainting skills now?? as much as things are not ok under pf, kambwili and mulongoti are the last pipo i wud give audience.
If Kambwili said about me what he does about Edgar, I will be very upset with him
Some of the comments on this platform, would make you think that foools are made in Zambia. Do PF cadres have the same father but different mothers? How come all of them cannot think? What is the average IQ accepted in PF. Is it 45?
Thuggery is the benchmark not iq , for PF membership…
Of course we won’t mention Namwala when we talk about thuggery! Who between Lungu and Kambwili is a thug I wonder?
The thug gets power through thuggery. Who did that?
Defaming and demeaning the head of state on a radio station is not freedom of speech. Journalists from private media should guide their guests on what is defamatory so that they concentrate on selling their manifesto. What we hear from the so called opposition on these radio stations is about what PF and govt are doing wrongly without stating how they would correct. to make matters worse they don’t even have mandate from anyone to speak on behalf of Zambians.
who elected Kambwili to speak on behalf of Zambians?
Jerabos perhaps
You can only demean someone if they deserve it. Corruption and thievery definitely is the easiest way to be one. Lungu has demeaned the presidency due to his actions and behavior. Eating unwashed mangoes on the street is “sure” the way presidents behave. Kwati ali nensala yakupwa one week.
You don’t need to be elected to speak out. Ignorance is dripping all over you. You such a sad person. For sure you are sheep.
awe mwandi. things in zed are surprising