Outrage After Government Sanctions Prime TV
The government’s decision to end its relationship with independent broadcaster Prime Television has sparked mass outrage and accusations of censorship from free speech advocates.
Former editor of the Zambia Post Fred M’membe has condemned the move as malicious and said that Prime TV was being attacked as part of a “consistent campaign to discredit and destroy this television station”.
Mr M’membe, who in 2000 was awarded the World Press Freedom Hero prize by the International Press Institute, said that the government’s actions were typical of the deteriorating status of media freedom in Zambia over the past six years.
He added that “While the threats to media freedom in this country are real and concerning in their own right, their impact on the state of democracy is what makes them truly dangerous.”
The uproar follows an announcement by the Ministry of Information on Tuesday that it would cut all business ties with Prime TV after the broadcaster refused to offer free advertising space for the government’s coronavirus information campaign.
Speaking at a press conference, ministerial spokesperson Dora Siliya said “the Government of Zambia and any of its agents, shall not conduct any media transactions with Prime Television station”
She added that “journalists from Prime Television shall not be invited to cover any government-related business”.
Mr M’membe defended Prime TV’s decision not to offer free advertising space, arguing that the government would not expect to receive drugs, hand sanitisers and other supplies to fight coronavirus for free, so why would it expect free advertising space?
He went on to ask the question “what has this government done for the independent media to deserve a free service from it?”
Elsewhere, the Non-governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has also criticised the government’s decision, and appealed to the ministry to reconsider.
NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Male said that many Zambians depended on the media outlet as their source of news, particularly women who may not have an active social network.
“Citizens should have unfettered access to diverse information for them to make informed decisions about their lives therefore, in the interest of public good, the women’s movement wishes to appeal to the government and Prime Television management to dialogue and find a solution to the impasse”, she said.
