. Kambwili

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –
THE recent attack on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) journalists by Youth and Sport  Minister Chishimba Kambwili and Patriotic Front (PF) officials is inconsistent with Government’s hands-off policy on the media, Parliament has heard.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Joseph Katema said it was inappropriate for Government and party officials to storm newsrooms to issue instructions.

. Masebo

On Monday, ZNBC Board chairperson John Mulwila said the minister and Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo stormed the newsroom and harassed journalists, including director of news and current affairs Kenneth Maduma.
Dr Katema said in a ministerial statement that going to the newsroom to instruct journalists to drop certain stories was inappropriate and against PF Government intention to make the media independent.
“It is against this background that Government regrets the incident at ZNBC where it is reported that some senior PF and Government officials went to ZNBC on Sunday evening to harassed and ordered newsroom staff to drop certain stories from the News bulletin,” Dr Katema said.??The ministerial statement was issued following a Point of Order raised by Kasempa Member of Parliament Kabinga Pande on Tuesday, who wanted to know if it was appropriate for the Information and Broadcasting Services Minister to keep quiet on the matter.??Dr Katema commended the ZNBC Board for publicly bringing to light the incident, which confirms that the corporation and media fraternity was free from Government control.??He advised the public and other Government officials that there were enough avenues for people to pursue when dissatisfied or aggrieved with a media report.??“Beside ZNBC in-house complaints procedure, the members of the public can also channel their complaints to the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA),” he said.??Opposition MPs asked the minister what measures would be taken against Mr Kambwili and the PF officials alleged to have harassed journalists.
Dr Katema said the Board of management of ZNBC had the right to sue the people involved.
He could not take any action against Mr Kambwili as he was not the appointing authority to mete out any disciplinary action on a fellow Cabinet minister.??He could also not take action against his Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo who condemned the action by the ZNBC Board, as he had no authority since the officer was not under his charge but that of the Secretary to the Cabinet.