‘Violent cadres will face the law’
By KASUBA MULENGA and YANDE KAPEYAVICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda yesterday warned that those who engage in violence will meet the full force of the law.
Mr Kunda said this when he received a petition from media associations over the continued harassment of journalists by political party cadres.
He received the petition from Media Institute of Southern Africa Zambia chairperson Henry Kabwe on behalf of other media bodies in Lusaka.
Mr Kunda assured that Government will accord serious attention to various issues raised in the petition.
“In receiving this petition, I also wish to take this opportunity to let you know that President Banda and the entire Government leadership is concerned as yourselves are about the hostilities against media personnel in the country,” the Vice-President said.
Mr Kunda said Government will remain committed to press freedom because it is an indispensable fundamental tool of democracy and good governance.
He said the media will always remain a useful partner of Government in the fight against corruption, poverty and HIV/AIDS because they have continued to play a pivotal role in the provision of information to the public.
Mr Kunda said Government has always condemned violence against journalists and will continue to do so against any other person in the country.
The Vice-President said there is need for everyone to appreciate the fact that criticism is a pillar of democracy and that some of it may not be pleasant to read or listen to.
“On the other hand, there is need to appreciate that the manner in which the media publish or carry some of their articles can be provocative and in some cases incite violence,” he said.
Mr Kunda, however, said violence can never be an answer, no matter how aggrieved one might be, and that the law will visit anyone engaging in the vice.
“Those who engage in violence will meet the full force of the law. This leaves no doubt about Government’s commitment to the rule of law,” he said.
Mr Kunda said it is the duty of all leaders, including those in the media, to ensure that in the course of protecting and upholding freedom of expression and press freedom, they avoid propaganda or speeches that could incite violence.
He said the media should encourage their members to observe ethics and conduct themselves professionally as they execute their duties.
“The challenge is to find a balance between freedom of the press and avoiding statements or publication of things that incite negative reaction leading to violence,” he said.
Mr Kunda said the occasion of receiving the petition, and the meeting he held with leaders of media bodies on Thursday, marked a new chapter for open dialogue in finding a lasting solution to the problem of violence against journalists in the country.
And Mr Kabwe said after presenting the petition that media practitioners want to see peace prevail in the country because serious violence starts in a small way and becomes difficult to control when it explodes.
“As we gather here today to present a petition to President Banda through you, we want to see peace at the end of the day. We gather here to seek protection from the police and Government,” he said.
Mr Kabwe said harassment of journalists is not only perpetrated by MMD cadres but also those from opposition political parties like the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development, the reason why media practitioners from both public and private institutions gathered to champion the same cause.
He said journalists should be assured of protection from yesterday onwards because media bodies will always remain vigilant to ensure that whoever harasses journalists in future is punished.
Mr Kabwe also presented a book titled “So this is democracy?” to the Vice-President.
The Vice-President was accompanied by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Ronnie Shikapwasha, his Home Affairs counterpart Lameck Mangani and Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant-General Ronnie Shikapwasha has described as criminal and unacceptable, the continued violence against journalists by party cadres.
He said President Banda and the MMD have condemned the recent reported harassment of journalists by some MMD cadres as it is uncalled for, regardless of differences in social or political persuasions.
Gen Shikapwasha said this in Parliament yesterday when he issued a ministerial statement on the recent act of violence against journalists.
He said all forms of violence against journalists or citizens are wrong as they violate the principles of freedom of the press and democracy.
“On countless occasions, Government leaders, up to the head of state are on record as having condemned violence against journalists despite the differences in social or political persuasions.
“Recently, President Banda condemned the reported acts of violence against journalists and called for an immediate end to the vice,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said Police are doing their best to ensure that cadres who were involved in the act are brought to book to face the law.
Gen Shikapwasha however said the recent attacks of journalists by party cadres are not the monopoly of the MMD.
He said in the past three years, a number of journalists have been harassed by political cadres believed to belong to the MMD, Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND).
Gen Shikapwasha cited biased and irresponsible reporting by some media organisations as the cause of the attacks against some journalists.
He said the Post Newspaper is one of the media organisations agitating violence by constantly publishing articles that insult President Banda.
“The President is insulted almost on a daily basis, and he has supporters who voted for him across the country. How do you expect them to feel apart from being provoked?
“Mr Speaker, President Banda must be respected because there are so many Zambians who voted for him and they demand that he be given due respect,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said the continued negative reporting by some media organisations is likely to tarnish the image of the country and scare away investors.
Gen Shikapwasha said many Zambians in the Diaspora have been questioning why some media organisations have continued to report negatively about the country.
“I can tell you that negative reporting by the media can put the country into flames and this is likely to kill opportunities for the future generations,” he said.
Gen Shikapwasha accused some churches of siding with some media organisations instead of condemning their insults against President Banda.
He said the church in Zambia is taking no stand against things that God abhors.
“The church is busy trying to jostle for who they should put in State House, forgetting their mandate.
Others are dishing out second hand clothing in the campaign for the pact while others feel if a person does not belong to a certain political party, then they are not Christian enough,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said the failure by the church to remain on God’s side but to take sides with newspapers and radio stations was what led to the genocide in Rwanda where over one million people were killed.
Gen Shikapwasha said media houses have been given up to six months to come up with a draft bill for self-regulation, failure to which the Government will introduce one in Parliament.
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