By Staff Writer
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Brian Mundubile says President Hakainde Hichilema has backtracked on his promise to enact Zambia Media Council ( ZAMEC) Bill into law.
Mr Mundubile who is also PF Presidential Candidate said enough progress was done over the ZAMEC issue but that President Hichilema had now gone silent on the matter.
“The expectation of the media fraternity in Zambia generally is that the UPND Government in general and President Hichilema in particular would expedite the enactment of the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) Bill given the many assurances he gave while in opposition to give the media freedom,” he said.
Mr Mundubile said President Hichilema promised to enact the Bill for more order in the manner media business was done and provide security to the media against any form of harassment.
“We, however, are concerned that media freedom under the UPND Government is shrinking at a fast rate.
Mr Mundubile said it was in public domain that media personnel were being harassed under the UPND Government.
“Examples are Muvi TV Reporter Innocent Phiri who was recently arrested for filming the police effecting an arrest on one of the opposition leaders Chilufya Tayali. And now we saw that the UPND cadres hounded out Mr. Tayali who was appearing on Kokoliko FM Radio in Chingola and another appearance on radio in Mufulira was thwarted by cadres,” he said.
He commended Zambia Police Service for arresting two suspects that stormed Kokoliko FM Radio in Chingola to hound out opposition leader Chilufya Tayali.
