Special Assistance to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere, said President Rupiah Banda will start including all media houses both public and private in his local and international trips.
Mr. Jere said this follows several requests from the media houses to be included in the Presidential delegations going for key international events.
He however said reporters from the private media will be included on a rotational basis due to financial constraints.
Mr. Jere said this in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today in reaction to a story carried by the Post Newspapers that said State House was eyeing MUVI TV to cover President Banda at the Africa Union Summit.
The story also said that President Banda is only interested in MUVI TV to cover his trip leaving out the other private media outlets and the state broadcaster.
Mr. Jere said to the contrary, President Banda will include the private media in addition to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) which syndicates stories to all media outlets in the country in his delegation to the AU Heads of State and government’s extraordinary summit in Addis Ababa Ethiopian this month.
He said the reporters from the state owned Times of Zambia, and Zambia Daily Mail newspapers, ZNBC and community radio stations in Zambia will be also be included on a rotational basis to cover key international events.
“I wish to reiterate that State House will continue including reporters from public, private and community media on the presidential delegation to key international events. Reporters working for the public and private media are all Zambians and should therefore be given the opportunity to cover their head of state on key international engagements such as the Africa Union Summit” he said.
Mr. Jere clarified that the President went with a crew from QFM to Mozambique during the SADC Troika meeting held on 15th January this year.
He said it was therefore erroneous and misleading for the Post to insinuate that President Banda is only interested in MUVI TV at the expense of other media outlets.
ZANIS
The wages of sin – wait for yours
Did You Know??
That Zambia is the only African country without a Presindent but only managed/governed by a TOURIST?
Jere, thank you for the lie. You will never put Post reporters on that rotation and that will be your excuse. Enjoy today, but don’t forget what happened to Richard Sakala.
The fact is RB has always been a very dull Individual. He is a naturally a dull person who coupled with his age has become worse. By his standards the guy really tries and is working very hard, but that’s not the level we’ve looking at in the 21st Century. The only problem is that he can’t function in this ERA!!!!! His level of thinking and understanding is from the 1960’s, and that’s where it ought to remain.
What is so important about RB’s trips, that there is this cry for media coverage? Or the interest for Journalists is just flying abroad. With or without media coverage, RB’s trips abroad do not yield any thing tangible for Zambia!
It doesnt matter whether Banda is covred or not.Honestly speaking is this an issue? Please ba Lt if posible this time leave out Banda on The week in Pictures.He really makes me sick.He is my presindent but i think it is not necesary to have a look at him when he doesnt care about our needs as his pipo.He is simply a tourist. May God bless Mother Zambia **==@};-
Just A waste of tax payers money again!! We are not interested in RBs trips. Let ZANIS continue going alone with Times ne fyashala. As #5 has put it, What do these trips benefit Zambia? The trip to Swaziland benefited the Swazi because they got to see just how big RBs tummy was due to good milile!!
Who are they lying to?