Zambia Alert: Local authorities accused of threatening community media

Several District Commissioners (DCs) in Zambia have been accused of threatening community media, especially radio stations, within their jurisdiction. Threats of licence withdrawals and physical assault have been recorded and appear to be connected to the critical coverage some of the DCs have been receiving.

Victor Kayekesi, a DC from Kasempa in north-western Zambia, is reported to have threatened to revoke the operating license for Kasempa Community Radio after being recently quizzed on the shortage of mortuary attendants at Mukinge Mission Hospital, which is under his jurisdiction.

Kayekesi went as far as reporting the station manager, Nyamba Munyumbana, to the police resulting in Munyumbana being picked up for questioning around 16:30hrs (CAT) on Thursday, 7 February 2013. It is not clear what the nature of Kayekesi's complaint is but Munyumbana was not charged although a police statement has been recorded, according to information sourced from the radio station.

Isoka Community Radio (northern province) and Radio Pasme (eastern province) have also reported similar reports of community media coming under fire from local authorities.

In a statement issued Friday, 8 February 2013, the Zambian Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zambia) called on the intimidation and harassment of community media to stop, especially from DCs.

We wish to remind DCs that have done so in the past or intend to do so in future that community media does not only exist to sing praises but also point out wrongs in their communities. MISA-Zambia is thus urging all DCs in the country to embrace and protect the media and use it as source of information for them to plan and deliver development that will reduce poverty levels in their areas,” read the statement.

For queries or comments, please contact:

Jane Chirwa, MISA-Zambia Information & Research Officer
Email: jane@misazambia.org.zm

OR

Levi Kabwato, MISA Programme Specialist: Media Freedom Monitoring & Research
Email: levi@misa.org