MUNDUBILE SHOULD BE THE LAST TO SPEAK
STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, 18 January 2023
LUSAKA – We have difficulties responding to opposition Patriotic Front presidential aspirant, Brian Mundubile’s sentiments because he is incoherent and tells blatant lies in order to gain relevance from his blind followers.
Just this week, Mundubile in a mafia style, with very little regard for the truth lied that the Republican President Mr Hakainde Hichilema was delaying the enactment of the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) Bill. He alleged that the Head of State was reneging on his commitment to the media law reforms.
We know that the media fraternity will meet in March to decide whether they go ahead with ZAMEC Bill or allow the status quo of no regulatory umbrella body.
Therefore, it is a lie by Mundubile to attribute the delay or absence of ZAMEC Act to President Hichilema. The Head of State has made it very clear that he will go by what the media wants as opposed to his government imposing a regulatory mechanism to the sector.
For someone vying for a position of president for the largest opposition party in the country, Mundubile is expected at all times to consult people around him who understand pertinent issues such as the media regulation.
Some of his colleagues vying for the presidency of the party might help the former parliamentary Chief Whip to understand issues of importance before opening his mouth.
In case Mundubile will be shy to consult Mr Emmanuel Mwamba about media reforms, there is a difference of opinion about the self-regulation of the media in the fraternity.
While some media personalities are for statutory self-regulation, others feel self-regulation without parliamentary statute is the best.
Statutory self-regulation under the PF was aimed at strangling the media, such as the Post Newspapers, Muvi TV and Prime TV Zambia.
President Hichilema and the UPND are very clear and consistent that the media should decide their fate.
This is the reason when Kokoliko radio and Mufken were invaded by some youths, the UPND called for their arrest and the party keadership called for a disciplinary session.
We also know that Mundubile was not a very young person when this advocacy work started under the Movement for Multi-Party (MMD) government. The Patriotic Front government found this issue was highly active, but decided to turn a blind eye on it.
We are sure that this man still remembers how the media were harassed and humiliated under the instructions and watch of the PF leadership.
Ba Mundubile, have you already forgotten how President Hichilema was forced through a roof-top of the Sun Radio station on the Copperbelt.
ISSUED BY: JAQUELINE SABAO
UPND CHIKANKATA MP