Government says it does not intend to stifle opposition political parties because Zambia is a democratic country.
Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni says that they PF government needs opposition political parties in order to provide checks and balances.
Mr. Sakeni who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services said this in a special live interview on radio Mano in Kasama, yesterday.
He contended that there is nothing wrong with the public order act as it only requires parties wishing to hold meetings to follow the rules and approach relevant authorities.
The opposition in the country has recently been on the heels of the PF government whom they have accused of not fulfilling the pre September 20, 2011promises such as the restoration of the Barotseland agreement.
It is these concerns that recently made five opposition parties such as the now opposition Movement for Democracy and Development ( MMD ), United Party for National Development (UPND ), United Liberal Party (ULP) , Alliance for Democracy and Democracy (ADD) and the National Restoration Party (NAREP ) to team up and express their concerns on a number of issues affecting the country.
Recently the leaders of the opposition held a Press Briefing at the UPND secretariat at which they denounced what they termed Dictatorial tendencies by President Michael Sata and the PF government.
The opposition leaders bemoaned the continued denial by the Zambia police permits to hold public rallies.
The police are reported to have blocked the joint political rally which was supposed to be held in Mutendere Township in Lusaka this weekend by the opposition.
And Mr. Sakeni has said that government has set aside K22 billion for the construction of infrastructure meant for provincial television stations in eight provinces.
He also said that another K25 billion has been set aside for the digital migration programme in the 2013 budget and the two programmes are expected to run simultaneously.
The Minister added that government is in the process of identifying plots earmarked for the construction of provincial television station offices.
Meanwhile Mr. Sakeni has said that government is still brainstorming on how best to help community radio stations in the different challenges they are facing.
‘’Our vision is to help private radio stations on what methodology we can use, ‘’ he said.
Mr. Sakeni is on a tour of media institutions in Northern Province and has so far visited ZANIS offices in Kasama and Mungwi district, ZNBC transmitter offices in Kasama and Radio Mano.
He also met with journalists at a cocktail where he interacted with them.
Mr. Sakeni is expected has since proceeded to Luapula Province today on a similar programme.
ZANIS
Kabimba sure, now you resort to cause death on Kambwili? Hope Kambwili will survive that tragedy…
Stop oppressing and dismantling the opposition if you need it!
No one with a well reasoning mind will ever take this govt seriously.Do we even need provincial tv stations? They will simlpy be propaganda tools for the ruling party.
checks and balances from a weak opposition?i think not
Any person with a properly functioning mind can never take the pf govt seriously.Do we even need provincial tv stations? They will simply be used as propaganda tools by any ruling party as is the case with znbc and others.
PF are primitive!
“Checks and balances” is the only half decent thing i’ve ever heard from a very partisan Sakeni.
It is like this government is composed of dull peolpe.Why fail to do everything?
BA SEKANI, THERE’S NO OPPOSITION IN ZAMBIA WORTH FOSTERING THE NEEDED CREDIBLE OPPOSITION. THE OPPOSITION LEADERS ARE ALL CRAZY. ONE OF THEM IS A TITHE THIEF, THE OTHER ONE IS A BITTER REGIONALIST, WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHETHER MIYANDA IS ALIVE OR DEAD. HE ALWAYS GOES IN HIBERNATION AFTER ELECTIONS. HE ONLY COMES OUT DURING ELECTION TIME FOR FUNDRAISING FOR HIS POCKET. NAWAKWI AND CHIPIMO COULD HAVE BEEN BUT POLITICS IS A GAME OF NUMBERS.