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EVEN in his soft-spoken manner, Zambia’s sports minister Gabriel Namulambe drops some bombshells.
But this time around, I think he has dropped a blunder-shell, if at all there is anything like that.
Mr Namulambe has attacked and condemned the Zambian media saying the fraternity has been reporting negatively on Zambia’s development efforts. He said Zambian journalists have an obligation to report positively about everything even when there are gaps and wrong things being done.
Mr Namulambe, who was visibly annoyed, said this at the weekend during a cocktail party in honour of the new World International Boxing Federation (WIBF) champion Ester Phiri of Zambia. Phiri hammered German’s Elina Tissen to grab the world title in Lusaka.
The minister was reacting to an analytical story, which was critical of the new world champion. This story was published in one of the Zambian dailies.
During his speech, the minister carpeted the role of the media. He actually said that he does not need to work with the media because work has always been done even without the journalists. Mr Namulambe has forgotten so soon that he is what he is because of the Zambia press.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind the minister about the crews of broadcasters and newspapers journalists he ferries to his constituency most of the time he visits. What does he say those people are? Even to convey that same message he was putting across, whom was he expecting to deliver it to the masses out there?
He forgets so quickly that the pen is mightier than the sword and then same pen that made him win elections to become minister can see him fall so fast from that public position he holds.
I was so frustrated after listening to the minister, whose professional track record I know about. I was frustrated because I think he does not qualify, whether academically or over his ministerial position to say those sordid words about the media. I think his accusations are a pure attack and insults on the press especially from the person of his caliber.
Just like any other people in Zambia and abroad, I think the minister was shooting from an off position and instead of handling the problems he has in the Zambian press with level headedness, he decides to expose his anger on innocent and defenceless reporters.
Journalists shall always be there because they have an obligation to inform, educate and entertain the public. Any means to suppress and frustrate their functions should not be welcomed.
Why does Mr Namulambe want to cow the media? Does he not realize that journalists are professionals who are actually critical in everything that we do? The investigative stories and analyses keep the people in authority on their check to ensure that they do the right things for the public who put them in those offices.
I find any outbursts against the media quite outrageous because in the first place, the press in Zambia and the world over has an ineligible right to report freely.
A cabinet minister must be the last person to attack the media.
Therefore, politicians and everyone else has no right to dictate to the journalists how they should write or report about events and critical issues in Zambia.
I am reminded about the World Press Freedom Day commemoration, which is just around the corner, where journalists need to speak and press for an unfettered press.
By and large, the media must be let to operate freely and any forms of condemnation and unwarranted attacks must be slammed with the contempt that they deserve.
Particularly, I would like to focus my attention on the comments from Lloyd in Harare.
I have nothing to say about what the media in Zambia has been writing about Ester since she started fighting those international bouts. Rather, my concern is when an individual such as Namulambe, Peter Cottan of National Milling Corporation and others launch an incessant and ruthless attack on the media.
There can never be development without the media. The media, you will agree with the me, is the people’s power in a democratic dispensation. The media must be left to operate freely instead of making fun and poking jokes and looking down upon journalists. Journalists have ethics. Therefore, accusations about reporting irresponsibly do not show up in this argument. The media has the responsibility to report accurately about issues in Zambia and abroad. When there is a bad situation, the media have to report as it is unless there are grave negative consequences about the same. Read the news in Zambia, most of it constitute development and these are positive stories we are talking about. We should not just hero-worship people, we have the responsibility to guide our champions, leaders and even the community because we are the eyes for the public. In any case, it is highly unfair for you people, including Namulambe, to issue a blanket condemnation against the media as if it was all the media institutions that have been reporting negatively about him, Ester and other things he said.
In the case of Ester, it is actually the media that contributed greatly to her success. I remember moments when Ester and her trainer Antony Mwamba used to frequent some newrooms soliciting for coverage. These newsrooms saw the champion in Ester and wrote all the stories. She is what she is now as a result of that. How can these people and their sponsors now started accusing the media of irresponsbile journalism? It is highly unethical and unappreciative of the works of the media especially on their part.
As for Lloyd, I agree with everything you have said as much as you have done. So I do not see any line for disagreeing with each other.
As a fraternity in Zambia, we accept our responsibilities, criticisms and mistakes and this matter, there is nothing to be apologetic about. The other party are the ones that need the criticism. I also do not agree with you when you say the media is unethical. I think it is unfair. We are professionals, remember? We are not booylickers.
