Lusaka - Zambia: Media players have expressed enthusiasm ahead of the Media Indaba that is expected to be graced by President Hakainde Hichilema tomorrow May
Lusaka - Zambia: The government will next week meet with the Media Liaison Committee to discuss the way forward regarding the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC)
By Dr Parkie Mbozi
IN LAST week’s article I elaborated the traditional functions of the mass media from normative and functionalist perspectives and how the media’s effective execution of these two functions will be crucial as Zambia goes to the polls this year. I further elaborated that an ‘ideal media’ will be crucial to ensuring that the 2021 elections are transparent, free and fair. The question is, how do we get the ‘ideal media’, that is judged as free, independent and, above all, ethical or professional during the elections and, more importantly, beyond August 2021?
The answer to this question, in my strongest of views, is going back to the drawing board, to the basics. That means another round of comprehensive media reforms, akin to the post-1991 reforms that the nation embarked on at the dawn of multiparty democracy under the Third Republic. The reforms culminated in very progressive pieces of legislation relating to freedom, independence and professionalism of