MISA-Zambia condemns government against retrogressive amendments and repeals to the ZNBC Act of 2002

MISA-Zambia condemns government against retrogressive amendments and repeals to the ZNBC Act of 2002

LUSAKA, March 11, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ --

On 1 March 2010, MISA-Zambia submitted before the Parliamentary committee on Information and Broadcasting Services that the operation of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) (Amendment) Act of 2002 was long overdue and has since condemned government proposals to amend the Act before it is even implemented.

MISA-Zambia Chairperson for broadcasting Mulenga Kabiti stated that the move by government to amend the ZNBC Act of 2002 would erode the quest for ZNBC to become a true public broadcaster.

Kibiti made the submission before the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Broadcasting Services concerning the proposed ZNBC amendment Bill of 2010. He submitted that sections 4 and 4A of the 2002 ZNBC Act should not be amended. The Bill proposes the amendment of section 4, sub ?section 2 of the principal Act by the deletion, immediately after the word ?Minister, of the words ?on recommendation of the appointments committee?. It also calls for the repeal of section 4a, which outlines the appointment and functions of the appointments committee.

Kabiti argued that the amendment and repeal contradict the real essence of the ZNBC (Amendment) Act of 2002, which seeks to make ZNBC more independent. ?Implementing this amendment implies a situation where the minister will appointment members of the ZNBC board directly, if not arbitrary?, he said.

Kabiti stated that the purpose of having an appointments committee as provided for in Section 4, subsection 2 and Section 4A of the principal Act was to enhance transparency, and to insulate the board from possible political as well as other forms of interference and manipulation. He maintained that Section 4 and 4A should be retained in the ZNBC Act of 2002 in order to free the broadcaster from the direct control of the executive arm of the government in order to ensure the citizens right to the public broadcaster.

Kabiti further emphasized that it was the only way ZNBC would be justified to have a right to seek financial contributions towards the operations and running of ZNBC. He also submitted that there was need to protect the private television channels because ZNBC would benefit from the proposed levies as well as advertising while the private media would only depend on advertising. He said this would place private media organizations at a disadvantage in terms of competition.

Background

The ZNBC (Amendment) Act of 2002 has not been implemented by the government since it was enacted almost seven years ago. MISA-Zambia has ever since been advocating for the operation of the ZNBC (amendment) Act. On 23 February 2010 Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Ronnie Shikapwasha presented the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, ZNBC amendment Act before Parliament.

The ZNBC (Amendment) Bill (N.A.B 6, 2010) seeks to address the following;

Provide for the payment of television levy

Authorize dealers as levy collection agents in respect of television tuners, receivers and like devices and

Provide for matters connected with, or incidental to foregoing.

Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

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