The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has dismissed media reports suggesting its Chief Executive Officer, Chibamba Kayama, is under probe for having misappropriated money solicited from various companies to conduct a ZNBC end-of-year party.
In a statement released to the media, ZNBC said there is absolutely no grain of truth in the story, as ZNBC has not held an end-of-year party since time immemorial. They described the reports as highly malicious.
In a story posted on the Lusaka Times website on 20 January 2014, ZNBC advised media outlets to follow the journalism ethos of providing balanced and fair coverage by engaging the other party and ensuring a balanced and well-researched story.
On 17 January, online media site, Zambian Watchdog, reported that ZNBC Director General, Chibamba Kanyama, is under investigation for stealing money and that ZNBC Director of Marketing, Chika Phiri, had already been fired.
The Zambian Watchdog alleged that ZNBC insiders said Chibamba Kanyama and Chika Phiri misappropriated money they solicited from various companies to conduct a ZNBC end-of-year party.
Zambian Watchdog says according to insiders, it was easy to fire Chika because even though he was a senior official, he was not a political appointee. Where as disciplining Chibamba required the approval of the politicians who appointed him.
Kanyama and Chika are said to be very close. Accoding to Zambian Watchdog, Kanyama hired Chika as the head of marketing & business development at Zambia State Insurance Corporation, when he was the corporate affairs director there and later hired Chika as Marketing Director for ZNBC.
For more information:
Jane Chirwa, MISA Zambia Information and Research Officer
Email: janechirwa79@yahoo.com
