By Ireen Mulenga
The Zambia Institute of Independent Media Alliance (ZIIMA) is saddened by information suggesting that Chete FM radio station in Nakonde was teargased by suspected PF cadres.
Ziima President Jajah Coulibaly said the community radio station was hosting opposition UPND officials Rev Mathews Chilekwa and George Sinkala on a paid radio program when the incident happened.
Mr Coulibay said the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) must take interest in the matter because the action by suspected PF cadres is pure act of criminality especially that party officials can have their custody weapons that are supposed to be in the hands of security wings.
He said journalists across the country should censor the ruling PF from coverage of all events that are political in nature as the country try to engage its leaders.
Mr Coulibay said that those that will cover the party will risk their lives.
“We would like to urge media houses and journalists across the country to find means of owning defensive weapons and protecting themselves from any attack from any political party cadres especially that the country goes to the polls in less than four months,” he said.
He said that they have observed and concluded that the head of state and the police are on the side of perpetrators of press freedom despite making statements of assuring journalists’ safety.
Mr Coulibay has appealed to the President’s conscious on assenting to the Cyber Crimes and Security bill that passed the third reading on human rights abuse.
He said that if President Lungu can ignore this bill the same way he hasn’t signed death warrants of those that are condemned to death by judges in the courts of law, the blame will be on him.
