MISA condemn the continuous harassement of private media by PF cadres
By Staff Reporter
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has condemned the storming by Patriotic Front cadres of private media houses and harassment of media personnel.
MISA Zambia Chairperson Helen Mwale said all citizens should be allowed an opportunity to engage or express their views inspite of their political affiliation or pursuation.
In a statement availed to newdayzambia.com, Mwale said Zambia was constitutionally a multiparty democracy and Zambians regardless of political affiliation had the right to express themselves and right to freedom of association.
Mwale said media has the right to feature such citizens as they are disseminating the right to freedom of expression in addition to playing their watchdog role.
“It is a shame that some of these violent and non-democratic PF cadres can today carry out actions to prevent opposition political party politicians from expressing their views on radio stations when their late founding leader Michael Sata and many of its leaders can attest to suffering the same fate while in opposition.” She said
She has urged PF cadres to desist from the trend as it is against the democratic principles .
Mwale has since challenged the police to arrest and charge the PF cadres such as the ones that stormed Feel Free Radio in Chipata last week for featuring an opposition National Democratic Congress official.
“Feel Free FM is the third station within a space of three months to have suffered from the attacks but to the contrary, no cadres so far have been arrested,” Mwale said.
