MISA Zambia has called on all media houses to treat all political players equally regardless of their political affiliation, race, tribe or gender.
Speaking in a statement, MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale says all media houses in the country should treat both female and male politicians with equal respect, prominence, and avoid asking them demeaning questions that attack their persona.
Mwale says that Zambia is a signatory to the SADC the Gender Protocol Agreement which calls for 50/50 gender representation thus all media houses are expected to media institutions to align their political programmes in line with this protocol.
This follows the intimidation of Socialist Party National Spokesperson Ms Rehoboth Kafwabulula by Sun FM journalist during a live call-in radio programme dubbed ‘Public Forum’ on Thursday 1st October 2020.
During the programme, Mr Mbasela humiliated Ms Kafwabulula by asking her personal questions such as; “who are you sleeping with?” and and “are you still a virgin in the political space?”.
MISA Zambia strongly condemns such interview tactics that are not only unprofessional but also unfair and a clear breach of media ethics.
Below is the full statement from MISA Zambia;
PRESS STATEMENT
MISA STRONGLY CONDEMNS HUMILIATION OF SOCIALIST PARTY NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON BY SUN FM JOURNALIST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5TH OCTOBER, 2020
LUSAKA – MISA Zambia has received with sadness the intimidation of Socialist Party National Spokesperson by Sun FM journalist during a live call-in radio programme.
On Thursday, Sun FM’s Kausa Mbasela hosted Ms Rehoboth Kafwabulula from Socialist Party on the station’s flagship current affairs programme dubbed Public Forum.
During the programme, Mr Mbasela humiliated Ms Kafwabulula by asking her personal questions such as; “who are you sleeping with?” and and “are you still a virgin in the political space?”.
MISA Zambia strongly condemns such interview tactics that are not only unprofessional but also unfair and a clear breach of media ethics.
We, therefore, urge all media houses in the country to treat both female and male politicians with equal respect, prominence, and avoid asking them demeaning questions that attack their persona”. The interview tactic was not only unprofessional but also an insult to the female folk as it insinuates that females can only be successful if the slept with men in a higher position.
We, therefore, call upon Sun FM management to seriously look into this matter and take appropriate action.
Zambia is a signatory to the SADC the Gender Protocol Agreement which calls for 50/50 gender representation.
Therefore, MISA Zambia expects all media institutions to align their political programmes in line with this protocol.
As we approach the 2021 general elections, we call on all media houses to treat all political players equally, regardless of their political affiliation, race, tribe or gender.
MISA Zambia also expects journalists and talk show hosts to be non-partisan, independent, gender-sensitive, and objective while moderating their political programmes in order to give every political party a platform to explain it’s manifesto. MISA Zambia is also appealing to media houses and journalists in particular to promote female participation in political governance of this country.
Issued by
Hellen Mwale
Chairperson, MISA Zambia
