High taxes imposed on media equipment are hindering the sector’s growth in Zambia, World Press Freedom Day organizing (WPFD) Committee Chairperson Sheikh Chifuwe has said.
Chifuwe said investors were shying away from investing in the media sector citing high taxes that had raised the prices of equipment thereby making them un-affordable.
He was speaking during a media briefing on the launch of this year’s World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) activities. May 3 each year has been officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly as World Press Freedom Day. All around the world on this day, supporters of media freedom celebrate the fundamental principles of press and media freedom that are articulated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s theme is Freedom of Information: The Right to Know.
In his speech, Chifuwe who is also the General Secretary of Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of the Post noted that media freedom had become a constant topic of discussion in the country, adding that its existence was being threatened either by statutory impositions, physical violation, social, political and economic challenges.
He called on the citizens to start demanding for a free press and free speech, without which there can never be justice in any society.
He however regretted that the industry was facing a challenge of ensuring the public understood issues concerning media freedom.
“If we successfully meet this challenge, and our citizens understand that freedom of expression and that of media is the foundation of their well being, then they will defend it and have access to a just and a free society,” he said.
Chifuwe urged the government to implement the pending media pieces of legislation as at May 3rd. These include the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Amendment Act, Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and Freedom of Information Bill (FOI).
He also called on the political players to support the Zambia Media Council (ZMC) launch especially at this time when the country was preparing for next year’s general elections, adding that it would enable them forward their complains and ensure fair play.
Chifuwe, at the same time challenged the media players to take control of the lined up activities to ensure that citizens understood their role in the WPFD, media laws and related activities with the aim of creating a just society anchored on the values of democracy and a deep appreciation of its tenets.
And Media Institute of Southern Africa Zambia Chapter (MISA) Chairperson Mr. Henry Kabwe added that politicians were resorting to harassing journalists for lack of a media regulatory body.
“We hope that these politicians will stop harassing journalists once we have the Zambia Media Council so that they can bring their complains,” he said
He also urged media houses to give this year’s WFPD activities maximum coverage so that they lead by example while addressing their own issues.
Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA) Programme Officer Miss Sally Chiwama urged the industry players to remain united and always speak with one voice.
Some of the activities lines up for the WPFD include a media soccer tournament and a national media freedom prize that honors a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding and courageous contribution to the defense or promotion of press freedom in Zambia.
The organizing committee of WPFD comprises of the Catholic Media Services (CMS), Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA), Media Institute of Southern Africa- (MISA) Zambia, Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) and Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators (ZUBID).
Others include Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS), The Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of the Post Newspapers, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Panos Southern Africa, Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Zambia Commission of UNESCO.
Ends.
Chifuwe said investors were shying away from investing in the media sector citing high taxes that had raised the prices of equipment thereby making them un-affordable.
He was speaking during a media briefing on the launch of this year’s World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) activities. May 3 each year has been officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly as World Press Freedom Day. All around the world on this day, supporters of media freedom celebrate the fundamental principles of press and media freedom that are articulated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s theme is Freedom of Information: The Right to Know.
In his speech, Chifuwe who is also the General Secretary of Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of the Post noted that media freedom had become a constant topic of discussion in the country, adding that its existence was being threatened either by statutory impositions, physical violation, social, political and economic challenges.
He called on the citizens to start demanding for a free press and free speech, without which there can never be justice in any society.
He however regretted that the industry was facing a challenge of ensuring the public understood issues concerning media freedom.
“If we successfully meet this challenge, and our citizens understand that freedom of expression and that of media is the foundation of their well being, then they will defend it and have access to a just and a free society,” he said.
Chifuwe urged the government to implement the pending media pieces of legislation as at May 3rd. These include the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Amendment Act, Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and Freedom of Information Bill (FOI).
He also called on the political players to support the Zambia Media Council (ZMC) launch especially at this time when the country was preparing for next year’s general elections, adding that it would enable them forward their complains and ensure fair play.
Chifuwe, at the same time challenged the media players to take control of the lined up activities to ensure that citizens understood their role in the WPFD, media laws and related activities with the aim of creating a just society anchored on the values of democracy and a deep appreciation of its tenets.
And Media Institute of Southern Africa Zambia Chapter (MISA) Chairperson Mr. Henry Kabwe added that politicians were resorting to harassing journalists for lack of a media regulatory body.
“We hope that these politicians will stop harassing journalists once we have the Zambia Media Council so that they can bring their complains,” he said
He also urged media houses to give this year’s WFPD activities maximum coverage so that they lead by example while addressing their own issues.
Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA) Programme Officer Miss Sally Chiwama urged the industry players to remain united and always speak with one voice.
Some of the activities lines up for the WPFD include a media soccer tournament and a national media freedom prize that honors a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding and courageous contribution to the defense or promotion of press freedom in Zambia.
The organizing committee of WPFD comprises of the Catholic Media Services (CMS), Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA), Media Institute of Southern Africa- (MISA) Zambia, Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) and Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators (ZUBID).
Others include Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS), The Press Freedom Committee (PFC) of the Post Newspapers, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Panos Southern Africa, Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Zambia Commission of UNESCO.
Ends.
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