MISA- ZAMBIA BLASTS CHABINGA FOR THREATENING JOURNALISTS
MISA- ZAMBIA has lambasted Robert Chabinga, the suspended Patriotic Front ( PF) Member of Parliament for threatening media houses of liquidation for being objective and covering the voices of other people within his group after the collapse of his relationship with Miles Sampa, the Matero legislator.
MISA- Zambia has described Mr Chabinga’s threats to journalists as a threat to democracy and the good governance of the country.
Mr Chabinga has however apologized for his uncouth and threatening language against journalists and media houses.
Mr Chabinga is on record threatening that he will liquidate media houses that referred to Miles Sampa as PF president.
Lorraine Chisanga, MISAZambia chairperson said in a statement that the organisaiton found threats as attacks on the efforts of the media in their role to promote democracy in the nation and against freedom of expression and press freedom which stand as the bedrock of a democratic nation.
“MISA- Zambia has found these threats intimidating and an infringement on the role of the media of educating, informing, and entertaining including through news, opinion, analysis, and sports reporting,” Ms Chisanga said.
She said Mr Chabinga being a political leader should stop making reckless statements and know that the media’s responsibility was to report facts from both the accuser and the accused so that their audiences could have a fair understanding of what was happening to make informed decisions.
Ms Chisanga said targeting journalists and truth was threatening media freedom.
She said the media was the fourth estate that provided checks and balances and therefore, the general public was urged to treat the media as a stakeholder in the development of the nation.