By ALICE NACHILEMBE
The North West Press Club and the Free Press Initiative (FPI) Zambia has condemed the violent attack on Ikelenge Zanis District Information Officer while he was on duty.
Mr Mwila was brutally attacked by members of United Party for National Development (UPND) during their fracas with Patriotic Front (PF) in Ikeleng’i District and left with head injuries and general body pains.
North West Press Club Chairperson Anthony Tapa said that the cadres did not only beat up Mr Mwila whilst on duty but they even grabbed the government camera, his mobile phone and money amounting to K1,000 from him.
Mr Tapa said it unfortunate as it comes barely days after political parties signed a peace pact against political violence on each other, including other stakeholders like the media.
He said the media is a very important stakeholder and has the difficult task of informing the nation on events before, during and after the August 12 general elections.
“Therefore, we cannot begin to have intimidation in whatever form on journalists from political players as this would erode the role entrusted to the media by citizens.
Further, we would like to appeal to all political parties especially to desist from venting their rivalries and anger on innocent journalists,”he said.
Mr Tapa said Political parties should know and understand that journalists are not politicians like them but professionals that have the responsibility of informing the public on various issues of concern in the community.
He has called on political party leaders to tame their cadres and educate them that journalists are not their rivals and that they need to allow the media to operate freely without intimidation.
