By SYLVESTER MWALE –

INFORMATION and Broadcasting Minister Chishimba Kambwili has appealed to Britain to assist equip the three public media institutions.
Mr Kambwili, who met British High Commissioner to Zambia James Thornton yesterday, said Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) were in need of a remedy to the operational problems the media houses were facing.
Mr Kambwili, who is chief Government spokesperson, said the Government planned to offload some shares in the Times of Zambia after improving the newspaper’s financial standing through recapitalisation and conversion of statutory debt into share capital.
“We are appealing for your assistance in addressing the challenges facing our media houses, namely, the Times of Zambia, the Zambia Daily Mail and ZNBC,” he said.
Mr Thornton met Mr Kambwili at the minister’s office when he paid a courtesy call on him in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Thornton commended the Government for making necessary efforts in entrenching media freedom in the country.
Establishment of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and the ongoing process to enact the Access to Information (ATI) law were among the shining examples of Government’s commitment.
He said the Government had demonstrated commitment to reform and reposition the Zambian media to enable it play its full and rightful role in national development.
The envoy said it was important that Government persisted in its defence and promotion of media freedom as demonstrated so far, as the benefits to the country were immense in the long run.
“I am happy to note that Government is committed to media freedom,” Mr Thornton said.
“As a victim of media misrepresentations and misquotations myself, I know how frustrating it is sometimes but it is crucial that Zambia defends its record of media freedom because the benefits are huge in the long run.”
Mr Kambwili appealed to the British Government to assist Zambia in equipping the three public media houses namely Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).
The minister said ZNBC studios needed overhaul while Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail were over-burdened by statutory debts owed to NAPSA and ZRA which had adversely affected their operations.
He also appealed to the British Government to train media personnel in the three public media houses.
Mr Kamwili said Government was committed to enactment of the ATI Bill and consultations were ongoing.