Government has noted that despite the act of allowing people to exercise their freedom of expression being healthy and commendable in a democracy, there is need for all radio stations in the country to ensure they contribute to peace-building by not allowing anyone to use their stations to encourage tribalism, division and disunity in the country.
Speaking during the commemoration of the 2023 World Radio Day in Lusaka whose theme was ‘Radio and Peace’, Minister of Information and Media and Chief Government Spokesperson Chushi Kasanda, noted that peace and unity is the greatest asset a country has ever had which should be guarded jealously by all Zambians.
Ms. Kasanda says the 2023 World Radio Day theme is a call to use radio as a catalyst for peace within and among nations which calls for serious introspection among radio journalists, producers and all other players in this industry, to ask themselves how they are using the radio as it has power to build or destroy.
MISA Zambia Chairperson Rev. Fr. Dr Barnabas Simatende OMI, says World Radio Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate Radio while reminding ourselves of the roles, importance and impact of radio in our communities.
In a statement for World Radio Day, Fr Simatende says MISA Zambia acknowledges that democracy cannot thrive without an open and free public space where all issues concerning human lives can be aired and debated to give an opportunity to the citizens of a given country to participate in the decision-making process to uphold peace in the country.
He further challenged broadcasters in particular, radio to be a pillar for conflict prevention and peacebuilding, to be as independent as possible and desist from acts of censorship in order to play their independent role in spearheading peace in the country as they celebrate World Radio Day.
