Journalists should be protected against physical violence ahead of the 2021 polls

ZAMBIA will hold the general elections on August 12, 2021. The general elections comprise the local government elections, the parliamentary elections and the presidential elections.

They are years. bishop so come out of those Prior to the elections, there garments we face you in the is need for people to be well political arena. informed about the mani

We cannot have men of God, festos of the various political like you who fail to see the parties taking part. Given this truth but only see emptiness scenario, the journalists play a where there is plenty. Learn to critical role of gathering news

and disseminate it to the peobe truthful Bishop Chisala. ple.

owever, the journalists from both the private media and the public media have fallen prey to attacks by some political cadres. This normally happens when the journalists execute their duties.

The attack of the journalists by some political cadres became worse during the by elections and the general elections. In the past, there have been incidences where the journalists have been physically manhandled merely by carrying out their duties of covering some events including the political ones.

The trend of journalists beheld every five ing attacked by some political cadres is unacceptable in that it is an affront to democracy. The vice should be nipped in the bud. To this effect, I reiterate the need for the law enforcers, the police to protect the journalists from being attacked by the cadres before, during and after the 2021 polls.

In another vein. I implore the police to apprehend and prosecute the unruly political cadres to face the full wrath of the law. My question seeking an answer is; "why should the journalists be attacked by the political cadres?" If truth be told; it is this one: the journalists are professionals who discharge their duties according to the journalism etiquette. It appears some political cadres have the insatiable desire for violence against the journalists.

All said and done, the journalists should be protected against attacks from disgruntled political cadres ahead of the 2021 polls. To curtail attack of the journalists, the police should up their game to sternly deal with the unruly cadres.

ELEMIYA PHIRI, Lusaka.