SUGILITE SYNDICATE CRIMINALS THREATEN PRIME TV JOURNALIST
The Sugilite criminal syndicate scandal in Mansa, Luapula Province, has been exposed because of the investigative journalism of Prime Television journalist Jubilee Malambo. Without Malambo’s investigative journalism, those involved in this criminal and corrupt syndicate would have got off scot-free and caused a lot of harm to the political, social, and economic wellbeing of our nation.
I phoned Malambo yesterday to congratulate him on this excellent investigative work, but he told me he is receiving death threats – threats that should not be taken lightly.
Unfortunately, Malambo’s investigative journalism is not without danger. Investigative journalists like him try to expose precisely what other, often powerful, people want to keep hidden. As a result, investigative journalists like Malambo are often threatened and intimidated. And today, he is living under threats and in fear of his life. Investigative journalists often risk their lives to uncover the truth.
What do criminals, corrupt civil servants and police officers, and crooked politicians like those involved in this Sugilite syndicate have in common? They all fear investigative journalists, whose job is to expose wrongdoing and hypocrisy by holding the powerful to account.
At a time when high-quality, independent journalism is more necessary than ever – and yet when the profession is facing many challenges – there is a need for us all to vigorously support and defend it.
The way we see the world and act depends on the information we have. This is why freedom of expression and freedom of the press are fundamental rights, and the free flow of ideas is a key driver of vibrant societies and human progress. Crimes against journalists have an enormous impact on society as a whole because they prevent people from making informed decisions.
When threats and attacks against journalists go unpunished, the justice system and safety frameworks fail everyone.
We must support and defend investigative journalists like Malambo because investigative journalism is of great importance for the functioning of our democracy. Investigative journalism increases transparency and can hold authorities to account. Investigative journalists can stir up a lot in society.
As someone who worked in the newspaper profession for 26 years, I believe the best way to support the investigative journalism of Malambo and others is to push for an Access to Information Act. This law would provide for the right to information. Access to information is a human right. Unfortunately, the right to information is not yet recognised in our country. It is not provided for in law. It is not observed. The right to information is ignored.
Fred M’membe,
President of the Socialist Party