Times of Zambia

By Times Reporter

Government remains committed to ensuring that information is made available to the media who facilitate dialogue between the Government and the public.

Speaking when she launched the World Press Freedom Day in Lusaka yesterday acting Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Cheif Government spokesperson Dora Siliya said the facilitation of dialouge was done through policy formulation and implementation of programmes.

Ms Siliya said Government's policy of media liberlisation has resulted in the multiplicity of media outlets both in the print and electronic media. 

Currently, Zambia has 45 radio stations and five television stations. 

She said the media policy was currently under review to take into consideration the new trends in the media sector.

She said the Ministry of Information and Broadcastin was consulting with Cabinet over the Freedom of Information Bill (FoIB).

"Other stakeholders are also seeking to secure an input into the enacting of the bill,"she said.

She said the Government passed the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Act to reintroduce television licence fees so that the national broadcaster can raise funds for its expanison projects and operations, particularly in rurual areas.

"The Act also gives powers to ZNBC TV licence inspectors to arrest.  It also clarifies certain definitions of broadcasting concepts that were not clarified in the earlier Act," she said.

The Zambian media today joins the rest of the world to celebrate the World Press Freedom Day whose theme is " Access to Information, the Right to Know." 

Ms Siliya said the theme was vital as it empowered the public, the Government and the media in making informed decisions which impact on the nation.

"Information is power.  Incidentally the public has the right to access this information which allows them to make informed decisions and choices on various economic activities such as agriculture, tourism, mining and even in politics," she said.

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