March 25, 2010

MISA ZAMBIA WARNS GOVERNMENT AGAINST RETROGRESSIVE AMENDMENTS AND REPEALS TO THE ZNBC ACT OF 2002

The Media Institute of Southern Africa ( MISA Zambia Chapter) has told a Parliamentary committee on Information and Broadcasting Services that the operationalisation of the ZNBC (Amendment) Act, 2002 is long over due and that moving amendments and repeals that expurgate progressive provisions will be a huge setback in the quest to create a true public broadcaster.
MISA Zambia programme officer for good governance, Chanda Mfula and Chairperson for broadcasting Mulenga Kabiti appeared on March 1 2010 and made a submission on the ramifications of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) amendment Bill.
The MISA Zambia team submitted that sections 4 and 4A of the Act should not be tempered with. The Bill proposes the amendment of section 4, sub –section 2 of the principal Act by the deletion, immediately after the word “Minister, of the words “on recommendation of the appointments committee”. It also calls for the repeal of section 4a, which outlines the appointment and functions of the appointments committee.
MISA Zambia argues that the amendment and repeal contradict the real essence of the ZNBC (Amendment) Act of 2002, which seeks to make ZNBC more independent. Implementing this amendment implies a situation where the minister will appointment members of the ZNBC board directly, if not arbitrary.
MISA Zambia states that the purpose of having an appointments committee as provided for in Section 4, subsection 2 and Section 4A of the principal Act is to enhance transparency, and insulate the board from possible political as well as other forms of interference and manipulation.
MISA Zambia maintains that Section 4 and 4A remain as they are in the ZNBC Act of 2002 in order to free the broadcaster from the direct control of the executive arm of the government to ensure that citizens of the country can have a stake in the public broadcaster.
MISA further states that this was the only way it would be justified for the citizens to be obligated by the law to contribute financially to the operations and running of ZNBC.
It was also submitted that if ZNBC will have to collect substantial amounts through levies, there had to be a way of protecting other broadcasters that would not benefit from these levies, from unfair competition, as their revenue base will mostly be advertising.
BACKGROUND
The ZNBC (Amendment) Act of 2002 has not been implemented by the government since it was enacted some sevens years ago. MISA Zambia has ever since been advocating for the operationalisation of the ZNBC (amendment) Act.
On February 23, 2010 Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Ronnie Shikapwasha presented the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, ZNBC amendment Act before Parliament.
The ZNBC (Amendment) Bill (N.A.B 6, 2010) seeks to address the following;
1. Provide for the payment of television levy
2. Authorize dealers as levy collection agents in respect of television tuners, receivers and like devices and
3. Provide for matters connected with, or incidental to foregoing.
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