By STEVEN ZANDE –
Government has appointed boards for the two public print media institutions, the Times of Zambia and the Zambia Daily Mail.
Information Minister, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson Kampamba Mulenga, has further said the Government, through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), will in the next few months start recapitalising the two media houses to make them more viable.
The Times of Zambia board comprises Gideon Mwewa, Mabel Mung’omba, Nikiwe Simpungwe, Horace Longwe, Bwalya Mwila, Nkusuwila Nachalwe, Lydia Mpepo and Information Permanent Secretary  (PS)Godfrey Malama.
Zambia Daily Mail has Geoffrey Simukoko, Simon Mwale, Gillian Mwamba, Chanda Mulenga and PS Mr Malama.
Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail managing directors remain Bestone Ng’onga and Nebert Mbewe, respectively.
“Government expects you to ensure that financial challenges of the two companies are resolved so that the companies become self-sustaining. The employees are also expectant,” Ms Mulenga said.
She announced at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that board chairpersons for the two institutions would be chosen at inaugural board meetings which would be set by respective managing directors.
Ms Mulenga said the board members had an onerous task to improve the financial standing of the two companies and this should be done by engaging stakeholders to resolve the outstanding issues.
The minister said Government expected the boards to strengthen the editorial and business aspects of the two institutions so that the companies could start making profits and declare dividends to the State.
The two companies have operated without boards from 2015 when their boards were dissolved.
The minister said the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation board had been selected awaiting approval by Parliament in its forthcoming sitting.
Ms Mulenga further said the Government through the IDC would soon be injecting capital in Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail to resolve some of the financial problems facing the two companies.
“Government has intentions to recapitalise the two companies. We will see a bit of change in the next few months,” she said.