IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________

ALERT - ZAMBIA

7 December 2004

Minister threatens government-owned media outlets

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

(MISA/IFEX) - On 24 November 2004, Deputy Minister of Commerce Trade and
Industry Geoffrey Samukonga caused a stir at the "Zambia Daily Mail", "Times
of Zambia" and Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) when he
accused the news organisations of tarnishing his image.

According to the "Zambia Daily Mail" of 25 November, Samukonga threatened to
have the newspaper's managing editor, Godfrey Malama, fired if he did not
dismiss chief reporter Patson Phiri, who he accused of writing stories
against him.

"In a shocking and astonishing spectacle, Mr. Samukonga stormed into the
'Daily Mail' newsroom and unleashed a tirade of insults on chief reporter
Patson Phiri, whom he accused of writing adverse stories against him," the
newspaper said.

The deputy minister then reportedly proceeded to Malama's office and
insulted him. He also allegedly pointed his finger menacingly at
editor-in-chief Mary Mbewe's face and threatened to have the newspaper's top
managers dismissed if Phiri was not fired.

The "Times of Zambia" and ZNBC reported that Samukonga repeated this
outburst at both of their institutions. At ZNBC, he reportedly threw papers
about in anger over a story that his firm had been sued by a security
company for non-payment of services rendered.

The Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) condemned Samukonga's behaviour,
saying his actions were a threat to democracy.

The "Zambia Daily Mail"'s management filed a complaint against Samukonga
with the police. The complaint was later withdrawn when President Mwanawasa
promised to take action against the minister.

For further information, contact Zoé Titus, Programme Manager, Media Freedom
Monitoring, MISA, Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232 975,
fax: +264 61 248 016, e-mail: [email protected] [2], Internet:
http://www.misa.org [3]

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of MISA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MISA.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Suite 403, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: [email protected] [4] general e-mail: [email protected] [5]
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/ [6]
_________________________________________________________________