MATHEWS MALAZIKA
Lusaka
TURKISH Ambassador to Zambia Huseyin Barbaros Dicle says the media, particularly Zambia Daily Mail, has a special role in strengthening Turkey and Zambia’s
bilateral relationship.
Mr Dicle says the national newspaper is key in the coverage of Turkey’s activities in Zambia.
“I read your paper (Daily Mail) every day and so, better coverage about Turkey in the coming period is important. Media has a huge role to play and communication with the media is one of our diplomatic strategies,” he said.
Speaking yesterday when he called on Zambia Daily Mail management, Mr Dicle said the two parties should cooperate better in terms of institutional capacities.
He said Turkish companies have been investing in Zambia in various sectors like energy, mining and agriculture.
Mr Dicle also noted that the two countries are collaborating in key social sectors like education and health.
“We are getting more visible in Zambia, especially in energy and agriculture, and I’m pushing investors from Turkey to come to Zambia.”
He also highlighted the need for Zambians to take advantage of Turkish scholarship programmes to enhance their knowledge.
Mr Dicle also described Zambia as a democratic and peaceful country, as evidenced from the smooth transitioning of power by administrations.
And Zambia Daily Mail managing director Simate Simate urged the Turkish embassy to use the company’s editorial department for their activities.
To enhance revenue streams, Mr Simate said the public media organisation has introduced courier
services.
“Through courier services, we carry the papers, we carry people’s goods and make a little bit of money. On top of that, to expand the courier, we said let’s carry people too.
“So, we bought two 60-seater buses to run a trip to the Copperbelt where we will carry our papers, goods and people. This is all in the name of trying to diversify our revenue streams,” Mr Simate said.
“We do a bit of commercial printing, but we are in the process of acquiring our own commercial printing equipment so that we expand further our revenue footprint.”
He said Daily Mail is ready to cover Turkish companies that are coming to invest in Zambia, emphasising the need for them not to invest in silence.
Zambia Daily Mail managing editor Emelda Musonda said the company is eager to be trained in election reporting through Turkish support…https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
