Lack of an Access to Information (ATI) Law has continued to affect media freedom and limiting the media in Zambia.
Speaking during the 20th MISA Platinum & Golden awards which were celebrated on 30th September 2022 under the theme,’ Access to information, towards transparency, accountability and e-governance’, MISA Zambia Chairperson Rev. Fr. Barnabas Simatende OMI (PhD) says media freedom in Zambia has continued to be affected by the journalist’s limited access to information.
“The culture of secrecy among government officials has persisted as information held by government, which is necessary for public use, is treated as secret and in-house information”, he says.
Rev. Fr. Simatende adds that bureaucracy and lack of decentralized information channels among public institutions are other major obstacles that limit and restrict access to information necessary for the citizens to make informed decisions.
“Journalists, especially those in rural districts of the country often times have had their requests for information referred to provincial officials or the capital city – Lusaka which headquarters most government ministries. District officials often refuse to comment on matters of public interest affecting local communities”, he added.
And speaking during the same event, the Swedish Ambassador Mr. Johan Hallenborg says Sweden has had a special emphasis on democracy in recent years which is called the drive for democracy and their ambition is to counter the democratic backsliding we see around the world.
“Strengthening free and independent media, including on the internet, is one of the focus areas of the drive for democracy. However, media freedom is part of all our focus areas. These include support and protect the voices of democracy such as human rights defenders, strengthening respect for the rule of law, promoting the growth of independent institutions and strengthening women’s political participation and influence. These objectives cannot be achieved without a free and independent media”, he says.
Ambassador Hallenborg adds that in this time of global democratic backsliding, strong democracies must join hands adding that in many countries which move towards increased autocracy, access to information, transparency and accountability are stifled or completely curtailed in order to safeguard the interests of those in power.
MISA Zambia has for the past 20 years held media awards to promote media excellence and professionalism in the county. This year, a total of twenty-one (21) journalists were awarded and these included;
MISA SPONSORED CATEGORIES
Platinum Award
Jubilee Malambo
Prime TV-Mansa
Golden Print
Winner : Jack Jacob Zimba
Institution: Zambia Daily Mail
Golden TV
Winner : Virginia Chilongo
Institution: Muvi TV
Golden Radio
Winner: Dominic Bikale
Institution: ZNBC (Kaonde section)
Golden Online Media
Winner: Christopher Chisi
Institution:5 FM
Golden Community Media
Winner : Aphius Kaputula
Institution: Muvi TV
SPONSORED CATEGORIES
Best Reporting Social Protection Sponsored by PSPF
Winner: Linda Mupemo
Institution: ZANIS Milenge
Television
Winner: Zipporah Mushala
Institution: Camnet TV
Radio
Winner: Lukundo Nankamba
Institution: Radio Phoenix
Best Reporting National & Natural Resources Management sponsored by Diakonia Zambia
Winner: Ndangwa Mwittah
Institution: Zambia Daily Mail
Online
Winner: Cynthia Nkhata
Institution: African Women in Media
Television
Winner: Christopher Bazilio Banda
Institution: Prime TV
Radio
Winner: Bibian Lambart Mwale
Institution: Radio Christian Voice
Best Reporting Gender sponsored by NGOCC
Winner: Ndangwa Mwittah
Institution: Zambia Daily Mail
Electronic
Winner: Monica Baidoo
Institution: Flava FM
AMR champion journalist award sponsored by Otridah Kapona
Winner: Lucy Nambela
Institution: Capital FM
Best Reporting Child Rights Governance sponsored by PANOS
Winner: Dorothy Chisi
Institution: Times of Zambia
Electronic
Winner: Justina Matandiko
Institution: Radio Ichengelo.
Outstanding Buy Local Campaign sponsored by Buy Zed Campaign
Winner: Violet Mengo
Institution: Zambia Daily Mail
Electronic
Winner: Joseph Phiri
Institution: ZNBC Radio 2
Best Reporting Intellectual Property sponsored by Partners Against Piracy
Winner:Christopher Chisi
Institution:5 FM
