.Mr. Shamenda

By NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA –

SCORES of Zambian journalists yesterday marched and held various activities in different parts of the country as they joined the rest of the World in commemorating World Press Freedom Day which falls on May 3 every year.
Acting Information Minister Fackson Shamenda, who was among the journalists, paid tribute to the media for the significant role they played in the development of the country since independence.
The minister stated that journalism was a noble profession not for the faint-hearted and called on media practitioners not to relent in fighting and protection of their rights.
“I urge you to remain focused, as you soldier on to fight and protect your rights. Our role as Government is to facilitate and not to be an impediment, so it is up to you to fight for what belongs to you,” he said.
Mr Shamenda said the media operated freely under the PF Government as compared to the previous governments and that Government was committed to enact the Access to Information Bill, but warned against rushing the enactment to avoid disadvantaging the media.
Mr Shamenda also said Government was disappointed with some on-line publications infringing on people’s rights under the pretext of media freedom.
World Press Freedom organising committee chairperson Henry Kabwe said it was important that the media was allowed to operate freely.
Mr Kabwe said press freedom was a powerful right which determines the level of good governance for a democratic country.
In Ndola, district commissioner Rebby Chanda called on media practitioners to be professional and patriotic in their operations for the development of the country.
Mr Chanda said yesterday at the Civic Centre that in as  much as journalist had freedom to report, they also had the duty to protect the interest of the country.
Times Printpak Zambia Limited deputy managing director Chishimba Chishimba said there was need for journalist to be well remunerated so that they did not become vulnerable to news sources
Mr Chishimba said journalists in the country were looking forward to a time when practitioners worked under good conditions of service.
In Livingstone, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe hailed the media in the province for highlighting various developmental projects.
Speaking at the Civil Centre yesterday to mark the Day, Mr Munkombwe also urged the media to help in the fight against corruption by exposing people using Government time and resources for personal gain.
Mr Munkombwe donated K1,000 from his pocket and K500 from PF Southern Province to the Livingstone Press Club.
Livingstone Press Club president Brian Hatyoka said media freedom was a key to promoting development.
Mr Hatyoka, who is Times Printpak Livingstone Bureau Chief, said it would be difficult to attain a better future if the environment in which the media operated was unfriendly.
Non Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Southern Province coordinator Faith Simukoko said her organisation attached great importance to media freedom.
And in Kabwe,  Central Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta urged journalists to be committed in fostering media and national development.
He was speaking during the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day in Kabwe yesterday in a speech read on his behalf by Central Province Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale.