TL: ZAMBIA: Threat to press outcry  
SO: Africa INFORMATION Afrique Volume VII, No. 20 
DT: October 24, 1994
Keywords: news south africa media censorship zambia
human rights politics legislation  /

ZAMBIA: Threat to press freedom causes outcry 

Lusaka, October 17, 1994 (AIA/Fred Chela)--Proposed legislation
to make the Zambian media answerable to a government-appointed
tribunal is causing an outcry. 

At issue is a parliamentary code of ethics bill, providing for
a tribunal chaired by the chief justice, to which ministers and
members of parliament will be able to lodge complaints when the
media makes potentially damaging allegations against them. 

Journalists will be compelled to appear before the tribunal
which will have 45 days to pass judgement. Its powers of censure
have not yet been defined. 

At present, the two main combatants are the Press Association of
Zambia (Paza), a pressure group representing the interests of
journalists, and the government. Paza and the Zambia Union of
Journalists have bitterly condemned the bill as tantamount to
muzzling the media. 

Paza chairman Peter Kasoma says: "If President Frederick Chiluba
goes ahead and assents it (the bill) into law without removing
the clause requiring journalists to appear before a tribunal we
shall appeal to the donor community to deny the government any
funding. 

"The bill is totally against press freedom since it would compel
journalists to reveal confidences before a tribunal," says
Kasoma. 

Government minister Paul Tembo scoffs at Paza's threat to try to
have aid halted. "They will fail--their chances of succeeding
are very remote," he says. 

The bill has been criticised by some opposition parties, media
practitioners and the general public. The latter, however, would
like to see the bill broadened to include not only MPs, but
themselves, when they feel they have been aggrieved by the
media. 

Ironically, the vocal and eloquent opposition National Party
president Baldwin Nkambula describes the bill as progressive,
and the United National Independence Party, also in opposition,
cautiously reserved comment. 

The donor community apparently approves of the proposed bill.
United States embassy spokesman Steadman Howard says: "We are
pleased to see parliament passing the ethics bill--it is a step
in the right direction." 

British High Commission spokesman Russ Dixon also says his
government welcomes the bill. They decline to comment on
specific aspects of the bill. 

Paza has formed an ethics committee to watch over the media, in
an attempt to counter the bill. Prominent personalities from the
churches, trade unions, the media, lawyers and political parties
have been asked to sit on the committee. 

But is has no legal standing. 

Kasoma says the committee, despite having no statutory powers,
would be able to "punish" erring journalists or newspapers,
although he does not say how. 

Some journalists say the idea of an ethics committee is good but
it will be toothless unless it has the backing of the law or
powers similar to those given to regulatory bodies for lawyers
and doctors. 

Most journalists feel a self-regulatory body would be sufficient
to curb media excesses, rather than having a government-
appointed tribunal written into law. 

Deputy Information Minister Derrick Silwamba defends the bill,
saying: "It is intended to ensure that ministers conform to the
norms of transparency and accountability." 

941013.ZAM (493 words)