Media bodies have submitted a petition addressed to Zambian President Rupiah Banda on 7 August 2009 in an effort to push for media law reform process in the country.The petition calls on government to drop charges against The Post Newspaper News Editor Chansa Kabwela because her case was based on archaic laws that were crafted in the 1930s during Zambias colonial era. Presenting the petition on behalf of media bodies in Zambia, MISA-Zambia Chairperson, Henry Kabwe explained that the law of circulating obscene material on which she was charged did not state what constituted obscenity in Zambia.
Zambian Vice President George Kunda received the petition on behalf of the president, who at the time was away on official business in South Africa. While receiving the petition, Kunda said violence could never be an answer to any grievance and that perpetrators of violence against media would face the law. He stressed that there was need for Zambians to appreciate criticism.
There is need for everyone to appreciate that criticisms is a pillar of democracy and some of it may not be pleasant to read about or to listen to. On the other hand, there is need to appreciate that the manner in which the media publishes or carries some of its articles can be provocative and in some cases incite violence, said Kunda.
Kunda said government was committed to the rule of law, adding that it was the duty of all leaders including the media, to ensure that the protection of freedom of the press and expression was upheld by avoiding propaganda or speeches that could incite violence.
The challenge is to find a balance between freedom of the press and avoiding statements or publication of things that incite reaction leading to violence, the Vice President said, stating that government will accord serious attention to the issues raised in the petition.
Background
The Petition is part of media bodies reaction towards a pending case against Post Newspaper News Editor Chansa Kabwela (29) who is charged with a count of circulating obscene materials. She is accused of circulating pictures of a woman in child labour. In addition media bodies are calling for the punishment of offenders who attacked journalists from state owned Times of Zambia newspaper and The Post, an independent newspaper at Lusaka International Airport on 28 July 2009. The journalists were attacked while awaiting to cover the arrival of President Rupiah Banda who had gone on state visit to Uganda. Reporters, Anthony Mulowa, and Richard Mulonga, from Times of Zambia and Chibabula Silwamba and Collins Phiri from The Post were attacked and forced to leave the airport.