Diamond TV Journalists Summoned Over Leaked Budget Speech

Police in Lusaka have summoned Diamond TV chief executive Costa Mwansa and head of news George Chomba over the allegedly leaked budget speech presented to parliament last month. 

Authorities want to know how the TV network accessed finance minister Bwalya Ng’andu’s speech hours before he delivered it in parliament on 25th September. 

Traditionally the ministry of finance gives media houses embargoed copies of the budget speech for expert analysis before it is read, however that was not the case this year.

This will be the second round of questioning for the Diamond TV execs after the duo appeared before police last week. The pair had their cell phones and a company laptop confiscated. 

The Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia chapter has already condemned the summons as an assault on media freedom. 

Police are also questioning staff from ZNBC and officials from the finance ministry in connection with the leaked speech.