The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia condemns, in the strongest terms, the action by the Patriotic Front (PF) Youths in Western province who blocked Luampa United Party for National Development (UPND) Member of Parliament from participating in a State Function.
The youths blocked Honorable Makozo Chikote on grounds that they knew what he was going to say beforehand.
As an institution that stands for freedom of expression and association, we strongly condemn the attack on Honorable Chikote.
It is unfortunate that the PF youths blocked Hon. Chikote who was there to merely do his job of witnessing his constituency being connected to the national grid for the first time. We wish to put it on record that the action constitutes a violation of Hon. Chikote’s rights to freedom of expression and association which are key rights to safeguarding the country’s democracy and good governance.
To this end, MISA Zambia wishes to commend Her Honour the Vice President. Mrs Inonge Wina for expressing concern over the act and educating the PF supporters on the rights of members of parliament who belong to opposition political parties.
The Vice President’s pronouncement have the ability to deter such acts in future as they have been made by the second highest office in Zambia. It is our hope that other political parties in Zambia will emulate the Vice President.
In the same vein we wish to call on Her Honour the Vice President to extend similar advice to PF supporters in Chinsali District who have threatened a radio station called Muchinga and have since instructed it to desist from featuring opposition party supporters as it is a PF stronghold.
It is also our hope that the PF leadership will get to the bottom of the matter and discipline the cadres involved to avert the creation of fear in citizens and the media as regards freedom of expression and association. We wish to emphasise that the two rights are vital to safeguarding democracy, transparency and good governance.
Issued by
Ms Hellen Mwale
MISA Zambia Chairperson
Contact 260 211 294285
