Stay away from media houses, NGO cautions UPND cadres

PROJECT Support Learners Zambia (PSLZ) has cautioned the UPND government to tame its cadres and advise them to stay away from the behaviour and system of storming media houses whenever a particular media house is hosting opposition leaders.

Livingstone District Coordinator Nyambe Mutete believes that the media should be allowed to carry out their duties without any duress and harassment.

Mr Mutete said that doing so will not only disadvantage the ruling party but also dwindle public trust in free press and media freedom.

“As in every election, the year 2021 was eventful and historical as we were able as a country to show to the outside world that we have a thriving democracy that can change government peacefully through the ballot without violence and shadding blood. Even amidst Covid pandemic, electorates turned up in numbers adhering to Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)’s campaign strategies to conform with covid protocols,” he said.

“However, as PSLZ, we observed attacks on the media houses especially radio stations which reflected bad attitudes on media freedoms as well as social media which was also used mostly as a propaganda which provided opinion polls that were questionable,” Mr Mutete said.

“Further, we want to appeal to the new dawn government to tame it’s cadres and avoid such behaviours because it has potential to ruin their reputation,” he said.

“Our appeal as PSLZ to the general citizenry is to continue maintaining peace and love even in this new year of 2022,” he said.