AN infamous Zambian leftist tabloid recently defended the unbridled freedom of expression in its opinion by citing the British-Indian novelist and essayist Salman Rushdie who once said ‘what is freedom of expression without freedom to offend?’
It is now understandable why the owner of this paper has been wantonly insulting his perceived enemies and people in leadership.
He is guarded by the maxim ‘right to offend’ without considering consequences like the rights of the people he offends, national security and respecting the Head of State.
No wonder he is now quoting arrogant and self-righteous chiefs who are denying ethnic cleansing and proudly summoning others to their courts without acknowledging the cruel truth that they should own up.
The leftist tabloid has also been quoting another shameless bishop who has ignorantly announced that the presidency has failed to show leadership concerning violence.
What is true is that it is the bishop himself who has failed to show credible ecclesiastical guidance on the matter of violence since he has taken sides with the perpetrators of violence whom he is dining with and praising in the worst form of hypocrisy.
The same paper is quoting another failed politician who has charged that the burning of the markets reported in several parts of Lusaka is not the work of a known opposition political party.
All in the good name of freedom of expression, the same paper has been quoting a clergyman, who has fallen from grace, daring authorities to arrest him.
Isn’t this a circus since freedom of expression has been taken to dizzy and insane heights?
Globally, there has been intense debate about freedom of expression.
Not only do individual countries differ radically in their stances on free speech and censorship, but there are struggles within each nation to interpret and enforce their citizens’ legal rights.
For Zambia, we should now scrutinise statements coming from once revered organisations like the Church, opposition political parties, international organisations, NGOs, civic societies, newspapers and
even traditional leaders.
All these organisations and individuals are finding a platform in one tabloid whose editor is the self-appointed champion of ‘freedom of expression’ no matter how unpalatable, seditious or immoral the comments are.
This calls for some individuals and organisations to understand the principles of free expression since the circus we are witnessing is reminiscent of the biblical tower of Babel.
Although freedom of expression should be welcome in any civilised societies, there are categories of speech that fall outside of its protection.
These include obscenity, child pornography, defamation, incitement to violence and true threats of violence.
In Zambia, apart from child pornography, freedom of expression, on defamation, obscenity, incitement to violence and true threats of violence have all been grossly violated.
Even in Europe where freedom of expression is promoted, Charlie Hebdo can be cited as a classic example when this right was misplaced, leading to many Europeans becoming offended by the inflammatory and offensive publication, particularly for its graphic cartoons lampooning religious figures such as the Prophet Muhammad.
Documents such as the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights represent an attempt to create a shared global agreement regarding universal rights and freedoms.
The Universal Declaration recognises that each country has the right to determine its own laws regarding freedom of expression.
For an African country like Zambia, this should cross the legal boundaries to consider aspects of morality and biblical principles.
However, whatever the argument, it must be borne in mind that the right to freedom of speech and expression is closely related to other rights, and may be limited when conflicting with other rights to freedom of expression.
This is what the editor of the leftist tabloid and his blue-eyed sources should understand since many a time, they seem to disregard this aspect.
How many times has this paper inconsiderately destroyed the honour and reputation of others in the name of ‘freedom of expression?’
The BIBLE tells us that ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’