IBA CONDEMNS THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST POWER FM RADIO IN KABWE AND RADIO MARIA IN CHIPATA

Lusaka, 2nd May, 2019 – The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) wishes to condemn the harassment, violence and damage to property that occurred at Power FM Radio in Kabwe, during the ‘Power to the people’ programme that featured Dr. Chishimba Kambwili on Tuesday 30th April, 2019. In the same way the Authority condemns the reported attacks and harassment of Journalists at Radio Maria of Chipata on Wednesday 1st May, 2019 after a political programme.

Broadcasting Stations have a crucial role to play in providing information to the public, and any disturbance to a station is an infringement on media freedom and the public’s right to information. The Authority is particularly dismayed that the people’s right to information is disrupted when the media is threatened. We are further saddened that these threats have occurred in the week when we are supposed to celebrate journalists on World Press Freedom Day, which falls on 3rd May, each year

In this regard, we wish to urge all political party sympathisers to follow the laid down procedures of registering their grievances about any broadcast material they find aggrieving as opposed to engaging in violence.

Complaints or any misgivings about media coverage must be made to the concerned station within three months of the broadcast. Should the station fail to make good or correct the complaint raised within fourteen days, then the complaint can be addressed to the IBA.

We also wish to advise that when an unfortunate incidence of violence occurs against a person and or a broadcast station, the incident must be reported to the Police, as the police are duly mandated to maintain law and order.

ISSUED BY:
JOSEPHINE MAPOMA
DIRECTOR GENERAL
INDEPENDENT BROADCASTING AUTHORITY (IBA)

The press release is downloadable at: Press Release – May 2019 Document .