BY NCHIMUNYA MIYOBA
The Northern Region Media Club (NORMEC) has condemned the harassment of a media personnel from the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Television yesterday at the Kitwe Magistrate Court.
NORMEC Secretary Clinton Masumba said the verbal and physical attack on the ZNBC camera person Kashete Sinyangwe was primitive and inhuman especially that it happened within the court premises.
Mr Masumba (above) emphasized that Journalism is not a crime in a democratic dispensation like Zambia and any form of attack or aggression against a Journalist is an insult to the country’s democracy and mean an attack on all journalists.
He said Mr Sinyangwe was only doing his work but the verbal and physical attack on denied him an opportunity to perform his duty as they attempted to grab the camera with intentions only know to them.
“The Northern Region Media Club wishes to remind the public that the role of Media remains to inform, educate and entertain. While, we take cognisant on the fact that sympathisers were emotional, it is only important that the media is given space to do their work,” he said.
He has since appealed to the public to always respect Journalists and allow them to work freely without being attacked, intimidated or harassed because theirs is a noble profession.
He added that people need to appreciate the role journalists play in the society on issues of public interest as the case of Daniel Makina is of such nature.
Mr Masumba further appealed to the Zambia Police Service to help in protecting journalists as they carry out their duties from such attacks whenever they are available because journalists play a vital role in ensuring news and events are reported for public consumption.
He added that it was saddening to note that yesterday’s incident happened just a few weeks after another Journalist, Raphael Mulenga of Flava Fm Radio was attacked and badly beaten by unruly people that rioted in Buchi Township after a Police Officer allegedly shot a car washer.
He noted that such attacks are a serious threat to Zambia’s democracy and affront to the freedom of the press hence the need to have a free and independent media operation zone.
Yesterday Unruly sympathisers of local Businessman Daniel Makina harassed the ZNBC camera person while executing his duties.
Makina was appearing at the Kitwe Magistrate Court in matter he is jointly charged with a taxi driver Chilufya for aggravated robbery contrary to the laws of Zambia at the Kitwe Magistrates Court.
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