INFORMATION, Broadcasting and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda has said he is hopeful that Government in collaboration with other stakeholders will manage to put in place a Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill within?the next six months.
Mr Lubinda said Government and the media houses in Zambia were working together on establishing media legislation especially the FOI regarding the operations of the media in the country.
He said this yesterday when he received 34 students and six teachers from Sweden and Kamwala High School who paid a courtesy call on him.
The 17 students and three teachers from Sweden are on a 16-day cultural exchange programme to Zambia that started between the two countries in 2004. Among the students are media students.
Mr Lubinda said Government was working with the media to come up with legislation regarding the operations of the media in the country especially the FOI Act which he hoped would come to conclusion within six months.
He was happy with the way the public media was working from the time the Patriotic Front(PF) took office.
Mr Lubinda said there had been a revolutionary in the manner the public media was operating from a highly contemptuous public media to a balanced one where everyone was happy adding that he was proud to be part of the public media where people were not raising their fingers on its coverage.
He said it was refreshing to see opposition political parties being covered in the public media.
Mr Lubinda who is Government spokesperson announced that his ministry would soon introduce weekly meetings with the media to attend to their various concerns adding that Government was providing an enabling environment for the media in the country to operate freely.
He was happy that the Swedish students had found time to visit Zambia on an exchange programe that would enhance their cultural learning of Zambia and life experiences of the Zambian people.
Mr Lubinda said Government was also intending to open at least a television and radio station in each of the nine provinces of Zambia.
He said the exchange programe was important in that it was linking? people to people and people to development saying there was no better way to develop the world apart from learning each other’s culture.
Mr Lubinda encouraged both countries to continue with the programme in order to foster development.
He said it was the PF Government’s wish to ensure there was an increased number of media houses in the country and that would be done through promotion of investment in media.
Mr Lubinda said it was also Government’s intention to promote and market Zambia so that the country could become a hub of tourism in the sub-Saharan region.
He said Zambia was best placed to become as such because of its?central location and the country was endowed with a beautiful climate change apart from having warm people.
Mr Lubinda told the students during the question and answer session? that it was wrong for people to conclude that there was no freedom of ?the Press in Zambia just because the country did not yet have a law on FOI Bill.
He said the biggest challenges that the media in Zambia was facing was financial, limited equipment and personnel.
And Swedish delegation leader Lennart Franden said he was happy with the exchange programme as it helped in exchange of information and?cultures that in the end contributed to the development of the two countries.
[Times of Zambia]
Yes, more blues from PF! Even Lubinda has become another promisory notes minister. This is PF. More to come within 90 days, true 90 days of humiliating the opposition and telling lies.
Its good to note the PF GRZ is still alive to its promises.
Monk, shani?
this will not workout..!!
Hallucinating goverment.
after six months we will be told within next 90 days
well its expected The PF cannot stick to its promised a free Media Not POST/TIMES/D-mails cant stand the pressure the world is becoming digital whether they like it or not they will be overtaken by vents:VIVA THE MOVEMENT
Who can trust you Kaponyas when busy trying to suffocate ZWD because it does not support your thuggry thoughts.Well we also know that this is the deal you made with Fred Meembe for destroying RB with unstoppable lies.
PF is a comedy of drama
Haters wether u like or not, PF is here to stay. Check, the FIB will be enacted within that period and everyone will be happy except you morons. Already, we are happy with more money in our pockets. # 1,5,6,7,8,9, hate all you want but watch as things get even more better and you become more frustrated……
MULETASHA BAFIKA………….. ATASE! SO U WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP DOING ANYTHING, COME OUT FROM YO DENIAL AND ACCEPT THAT SATA IS PRESIDENT AND THAT THIS COUNTRY IS SMELLING PEACE AND PROSPERITY
Go PF. Well done. Most western countries have FOI it’s the way forward…..
The tourist attraction Lubinda,who are you telling lies that ZNBC is covering the opposition as well.ZNBC is busy parroting,and staging defectors from opposition parties.Your fellow tourist attraction are the ones that are attracted to ZNBC and youself.
Kwena muletasha, the opposition was not covered at all in the former government, now we have hh all over the national media. However, bo Lubinda am so sad at these appointments did mwakalombe trade his seat in parliament for an appointment? You have really dumpened our spirits too early. I am even wondering whether I will ever vote again.
Mr. Lubinda all you have is a vuvuzela media from the Post to the Daily Mail, and Times. Every critical voice has been driven underground. Now you even want to block the independent voice that has remained on the internet. All self praise.
First it was 90 days, now its 6 months, the next thing you will hear is that “Not possible in one term, we need another one to finish our programs”. That is African politics for you. it stinks sure!
He’s made the right noises. Wish him success.
Pic dont look Swedish students to me. Need new specs!
Kudos to Lubinda. I wasn’t expecting this. Lets move on to abolish the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services as it is irrelevant to a Democracy. Lets also have ZNBC answerable to Parliament. Parliament should appoint its board and should supervise its funding. Lets fully privatise Times and Daily Mail. Let government run the defunct vernacular language newspapers such as Liseli Imbila Tsopano etc.
PF leaders seem to enjoy applause even before they do anything, hence their ability to keep promising things they can’t achieve. 90days, then 6months then what else? I wish they can just work. Tell us you will do it than making more promises when you haven’t fulfilled any one of them and it doesn’t look like you will do anything