Zambia: Information Minister denounces media self-regulation

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha has described the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) as a fraud that can not sustain the challenges involved in media regulation without power to enforce decisions because it is not backed by law.

According to the Times of Zambia of 20 August 2010, Shikapwasha  told journalists at the   Anglican Cathederal of the Holy Cross in Lusaka yesterday that the government would not accept any attempt  to introduce a self media regulation body being spearheaded by the Media Liaison Committee (MLC).

He said the MLC had borrowed largely from the South African model  which he said had already proved to be a failure.

The Minister said government would not draft the bill for statutory regulation but wanted media houses themselves to draft the one which the government would support.

He stated that the Kenyan model of self regulation was the most suitable for Zambia as it provided for authority to the board to enforce decisions and provided moderate punishment which operated as a deterrent.

Hikapwasha said a statutory regulation model would be a source of pride for Zambia as it would set minimum standards, compulsory registration, qualifications and penalties for those found wanting, and a declaration of interest where there was conflict.

Background

The MLC comprising MISA Zambia, other media associations and journalists’ unions have formed a media regulation body called ZAMEC which replaced the moribund Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ). However, the Zambian government has since said that ZAMEC is a shame and refused to register it.

The launch of ZAMEC was put off in May 2010 by the MLC following reservations by government that it was inadequate and lacked teeth to bring erring media to book because there was no law to back decisions or punishments it would make or mete out to such media.

Since then the impasse has continued forcing the Society for Senior Zambian Journalists (SSZJ) to step in to resolve the same through opening up dialogue between the state and the MLC. Following their announcement to address the deadlock on 14 August 2010, the MLC on 19 August 2010 resolved to postponed the launch of ZAMEC to pave way for dialogue with the state on which model of media regulation would be best. //End//

-August 26, 2010 by MISA

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Source: www.misa.org (received via e-mail alert on 26.08.10)