MISA slams Sun FM for Kafwabulula intimidation

Hellen Mwale, Chairperson, MISA Zambia called on Sun FM management to seriously look into this matter and take appropriate action.

On Thursday, Sun FM’s Kausa Mbasela hosted Ms. Rehoboth Kafwabulula from Socialist Party on the station’s flagship current affairs programme dubbed Public Forum.

During the programme, Mr Mbasela allegedly humiliated Ms. Kafwabulula by asking her personal questions such as; “who are you sleeping with?” and “are you still a virgin in the political space?”.

Ms Mwale said such interview tactics were not only unprofessional, but also unfair and a clear breach of media ethics.

“We therefore, urge all media houses in the country to treat both female and male politicians with equal respect, prominence, and avoid asking them demeaning questions that attack their persona. The interview tactic was not only unprofessional but also an insult to the female folk as it insinuates that females can only be successful if the slept with men in higher positions,” Ms Mwale said in a statement.

Ms Mwale said Zambia was a signatory to the SADC Gender Protocol Agreement which calls for 50/50 gender representation and MISA Zambia expects all media institutions to align their political programmes in line with

the protocol.

“As we approach the 2021 general elections, we call on all media houses to treat all political players equally, regardless of their political affiliation, race, tribe or gender,” said Ms Mwale.

Ms Mwale urged journalists and talk show hosts to be non-partisan, independent, gender sensitive, and objective while moderating their political programmes in order to give every political party a platform to explain its manifesto.

She also appealed to media houses and journalists to promote female participation in political governance of the country.