By Patricia Male
Information and Media Permanent Secretary Kennedy Kalunga says government is concerned with the delay by the media fraternity in the country to reach a consensus on how to proceed with self-regulatory mechanism which they proposed to regulate themselves professionally.
Mr. Kalunga says the media’s continued existence without a formal and functional mechanism for self-regulation has serious effects on the profession.
Speaking in Lusaka today at the launch of the MISA Zambia third and fourth quarter 2022 of the state of the media report in Zambia, Mr. Kalunga has urged the media fraternity to quickly resolve its differences around self-regulation for the advancement of the media.
The media fraternity in Zambia has been mobilizing to translate the presidential pronouncement on self-regulation but the process has taken long due to differences among themselves.
And the findings of the report have revealed that the period between July and December 2022 saw a moderate increase in media freedom and freedom of expression violations.
According to the findings, while there were several notable positive developments that helped media and citizens to enjoy relative free operating environment and freedom of expression, research by MISA Zambia indicates that experts ranked media freedom and freedom of expression, moderate in 2022.
Speaking at the launch of the report under the theme “the clash between media rights and political and state interests” Consultant Francesca Banda said in the period under review, 11 media violations were recorded, 7 between media and police and 4 between media and political party cadres.
Mrs. Banda has attributed this to the existence of archaic laws and activities that continue to undermine media freedom and freedom of expression.
CREDIT: PHOENIX NEWS
