THE POWER IN THE JOURNALISTS’ PEN

THERE is one unwritten rule on journalists for any leader and if broken, there begins maningi trouble.

The rule is “Thou shall not harass, arrest and incarcerate journalists for doing the job they get paid for.”

Even the worst dictators in the world have backed off intimidating and arresting journalists. If there was a man that mastered the art of using media to his advantage it was President Hichilema before he became President last year.

Journalists were his good buddies and mostly covered him on a voluntary basis without any “transport refund.”

Today kaya what has gone wrong with now our republican President that covering an arrest of a political leader has become a crime. We would have began to adopt the myth that living inside State House tends to change people 360 degrees for the good or bad in some aspects. Well, President Hichilema does not live there.

The incarcerating and charging of the Muvi journalist and camera man makes sad reading. The Police work under command from the Inspector General and works under command from the Minister of Home affairs and Internal Security. He too works under command from the President. The buck therefore stops with President Hichilema.

The guns the police hold have bullets and can scare, arrest and lead journalists to police cells or prisons.

Journalists however have a more powerful gun. It’s called a Pen that uses ink and not bullets. It has brought down the world's most powerful ever.

Ink even used to run out those days but now, journalists just need a smartphone and “bando” (phone data).

“The power of pen (phone data) is most dangerous than a gun.”

Handle journalists with care.

MILES SAMPA,

Together We Can.