Enock Ngoma optimistic over Zambia’s media reform
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Media Liaison Committee (MLC) Chairperson Enock Ngoma at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lusaka
Enock Ngoma optimistic over Zambia’s media reform
By Derrick Sinjela
MEDIA Liaison Committee (MLC) Media Liaison Committee Chairperson Enock Ngoma
welcomed continued pronouncements from the United Party for National Development (UPND) Alliance New Dawn Administration on the media especially with regard to press freedom and the need for media reforms in Zambia.
Mr. Ngoma is delighted that when presenting the 2022 national Budget to Parliament on Friday October 29, 2021 Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane reiterated Government resolve to deliver on electoral pledge to enact the Access to Information (ATI) bill.
Despite assurance of creating a conducive media environment, successive Government’s have not honoured this elusive demand by media practitioners.
Finance Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane meets IMF in Lusaka on Tuesday 31st August, 2021
Presenting President Hakainde Hichilema’s maiden National Budget before Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms. Nellie Mutti, Dr. Musokotwane as a bearer of Zambia’s Seventh (7th) Republican President Mr. Hichilema said :”In the short to medium-term, this Government will reform the media landscape, including public media. In this regard, Government will facilitate the installation of towers as well as FM radio services in all the districts. Both the public and private media will be allowed to operate freely without interference and restrictions. We expect media houses to walk the talk on self-regulation and professionalism as they discharge their duties.”
In concurring with the issues as stated by the Dr. Situmbeko, Ngoma reiterated MLC resolve and commitment to professionalism and ethical journalism among media practitioner as pillars on which Press Freedom is guaranteed.
To that effect, the MLC Chairperson noted that the process of coming up with a law that will guide the media profession in its quest to regulate itself is already underway.
“This week, the MLC will be handing over a Zambia Media Council Draft Bill of 2021 to the Minister of Information and Media Ms. Chushi Kasanda Jangulo for the Bill to undergo all the required processes before it is enacted into an Act of Parliament”.
Ngoma is happy that Minister of Information and Media has already made a public pronouncement that the draft Zambia Media Council Bill and the Access to Information Bill shall be enacted into law early next year so that between now and then, all necessary processes on the two Bills can be conducted.
“This is as it should be and to us as MLC, we look forward to seeing these processes come to fruition and we shall continue working with the government to ensure that we have a free and unbiased media. The need for comprehensive media reforms in Zambia cannot be over-emphasised. We need the reforms so that apart from enhancing professionalism, we can also operate in line with international media practice.”
Even as we welcome the Minister of Finance’s commitments to the media in his national budget address, as MLC we reiterate our call on media practitioners that let us also play our part by exhibiting high standards of ethical and professional journalism,’ said Ngoma.
