Media bodies in Zambia are divided over the proposed Zambia Media Council Act, 2021 Bill seeking to regulate their mode of operation amid concerns by government of escalating ‘fake news’ and other shortcomings inimical to the profession and violate citizens’ rights.
Calls for regulations of the media practitioners have mounted in recent years with the Government seeking Statutory oversight while the practitioners want to set own rules and regulate themselves under set rules and regulations.
The steering committee that operates as Media Self-Regulation Technical Working Group (TWG) which embraced among other groupings, the Media Liaison Committee (MLC) was until recently taken aback after the latter is alleged to have resubmitted the Zambia Media Council Act, 2021 Bill for onward enactment into law.
According to the proposed-revised Bill, the law if enacted will among other roles, set and promote common ethical and professional standards amongst media practitioners and media houses; provide for a platform for statutory self-regulation of professional conduct among media practitioners and media houses.
It will have power to allow or disqualify people who cannot practice and sanction erring media personnel, a move deemed an affront to media freedom, fueling concerns among media owners. The media Owners of Zambia (MOAZ) contend that the action was an affront to the dictates of press freedom and demand that it be withdrawn, claiming it lacked the input of all interest groups.
