THE MEDIA INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (MISA) ZAMBIA HAS APPEALED FOR A SPEEDY DIALOGUE BETWEEN RADIO LYAMBAI AND THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SO THAT THE RADIO STATION CAN IMMEDIATELY RESUME ITS OPERATIONS.
MISA ZAMBIA SAYS THE RADIO STATION MUST CONTINUE PLAYING THE ROLE OF PEACE BUILDING AND PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES FREELY ON TOPICAL ISSUES WHICH ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN PROVINCE.
MISA ZAMBIA CHAIRPERSON DANIEL SIKAZWE HAS TOLD RADIO PHOENIX THAT THE INSTITUTION IS CONCERNED THAT POLICE ACTED IN A HEAVY HANDED MANNER BY FORCING THEIR WAY INTO THE STATION AND SEIZING COMPUTERS AND OTHER VITAL EQUIPMENT, IN ADDITION TO VANDALIZING ELECTRICAL CABLES IN THE STUDIO.
MR SIKAZWE HAS SINCE CALLED ON THE BOARD AND MANAGEMENT OF RADIO LYAMBAI TO ENSURE THAT THE RADIO STATION DOES EVERYTHING ETHICALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY POSSIBLE TO SERVE ITS AUDIENCE IN A MANNER THAT BALANCES THE NEED FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROVINCE.
THE POLICE IN MONGU YESTERDAY CONFISCATED EQUIPMENT FROM RADIO LYAMBAI, WHICH CONSEQUENTLY PUT THE STATION OFF THE AIR.
AND IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, MISA ZAMBIA HAS DISMISSED ASSUMPTIONS THAT GOVERNMENT DIRECTED ALL COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS IN WESTERN PROVINCE FROM TRANSMITTING LIVE PHONE-IN PROGRAMS DISCUSSING THE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT.
MR. SIKAZWE EXPLAINS THAT GOVERNMENT MERELY ADVISED THE COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS IN WESTERN PROVINCE ESPECIALLY, TO BE CAUTIOUS WHEN HANDLING THAT MATTER IN ORDER NOT TO INFLAME AN ALREADY VOLATILE SITUATION.
MISA ZAMBIA HAS SINCE URGED THE MEDIA TO CONTINUE REPORTING ABOUT THE BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT AND OTHER ISSUES OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE BUT WAS HAST TO CAUTION THEM THAT MAXIMUM RESPONSIBILITY, PROFESSIONALISM AND ADHERENCE TO MEDIA ETHICS TO AVOID BEING ACCUSED OF INCITING THE POPULATION MUST BE EXERCISED.
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