Government recommends statutory self regulation of the media
The Zambian government has said that the proposed framework in the Fringilla Consensus falls short of a genuine self regulatory framework and would not be able to achieve effective self regulation of the media in the country.
In a letter dated 13 April, 2010 and addressed to Media Liaison Committee (MLC) chairperson Henry Kabwe, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Ronnie Shikapwasha said that the proposed voluntary media self regulation mechanism [christened Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC)] will be a reincarnation of the moribund Media Ethics Council of Zambia (MECOZ) and would be toothless and unenforceable.
In his letter titled “government reaction to the Fringilla consensus on media self regulation”, Shikapwasha said that the proposed voluntary media self regulation framework would lead to exemptions of some members thereby defeating the very essence of developing a credible professional and ethical media in the country because it was voluntary.
Shikapwasha wrote the letter to the MLC on the second day of the two-day National Stakeholder’s Conference on Media Self-regulation that was convened by the MLC. The objectives of the conference was to build consensus among the media on the need for the formation of an all inclusive media self regulation framework and to review the draft constitution and code of ethics for the proposed new self regulation body. The stakeholders’ conference was held at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka from 12 to 13 April 2010.
The Minister of Information further said that any proposed instrument regarding self regulation should not be deemed to be superior to the laws of the country. “We note that on one hand, the Draft Constitution provides for the proposed regulatory body to sue and to be sued while on the other, the Fringilla Consensus document takes away the right of the aggrieved party to take the matter to court. This is contradictory”. The letter reads. “In view of the foregoing coupled with the absolute need to avoid weaknesses that led to the failure of MECOZ in media self regulation, government’s position is that the Kenyan model of media self regulation would be the best option for Zambia”. The letter further reads.
Despite the letter written by the Minister of Information to the MLC which was shared with the delegates at the conference, the ZAMEC draft code of the ethics and constitution were adopted and the delegates reiterated their support towards non statutory and voluntary media regulation in Zambia.
Background
The MLC which is a consortium of media associations including MISA Zambia have been working on the process of establishing a non-statutory self regulatory frame work which will lead to the establishment of an all-inclusive Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) by 3 May 2010.
The Fringilla Consensus was arrived at by the media associations and selected media bodies at Fringilla lodge in Chisamba from 3 to 5 February 2010 and a document dubbed “The Fringilla Consensus” was adopted during the meeting. The Fringilla Consensus is a document that outlines the processes leading to the formation of an all inclusive and effective media regulation body that will be voluntary and non statutory. //End//
