Police fish out Kambwili from Radio station

Kambwili at Mansa Shoprite

Police in Mansa Friday mid morning besieged a radio programme featuring NDC shadow leader Chishimba Kambwili and ordered that the programme is discontinued and they picked him.

Below is a narrative from an eye witness:

“Am from K-FM Radio

Police arrived at the station at 11:49 and ordered that we cut short the interview featuring Hon. Chishimba Kambwili. We asked on whose orders they were acting but refused to answer and started to search the building for the on air studio.

For fear of breaking property we led them there and they ordered the immediate stop to the interview. Kambwili obliged and was taken to police immediately.

Police has since released him after being questioned by police command. It was a paid for interview by Dr. Kambwili.”

And later the NDC issued the following statement condemning the act by the police:

Media Freedom in Zambia under threat.

Mansa. 13.04.2018.

It is extremely regrettable that media freedom in Zambia under the Pf regime is under intense and severe threat.

The political environment for journalists in Zambia is not conducive and slowly degenerating.

The media environment is becoming unsafe and increasingly hostile lately.

The Edgar lungu regime will do everything possible to mime, gag, harras, manipulate and intimidate the private media.

Media outlet’s that are featuring opposition political grouping’s have been misunderstood and are now target’s of state manipulation and victimization.

Private media outlet’s are now perceived enemies of the state.

The Pf regime is jittery over its growing unpopularity and will do anything possible to ensure that media outlets covering independent voices are ridiculed at every cost and opportunity.

As NDC, we are disappointed that the Pf regime has implored medieval tactic’s and attempts to try and manipulate and operations of private media houses.

Furthermore, we find it absurd that this regime wants to fight proxy political battle’s using the media.

Useless, baseless and careless attempts by this regime to gag, harass, intimidate the private press in carrying out their duties are nothing but a violation of media rights and freedoms.

As NDC we take strong exception to what has happened in luapula province today.

The decision by state police to curtail a radio interview featuring NDC consultant in mansa is purely absurd and an act of desperation.

Police in Mansa have not given an valid reason on why Dr. Kambwili’s interview on k FM was stopped.

The only reason police have advanced is that the NDC had no police permit to warrant the sanctioning of the said radio interview.

This is ridiculous, flimsy and noting but an affront on media rights and freedoms.

Journalists do not need permission from police for them to conduct interviews.

Dr. Kambwili was on k FM radio to sale the ideologies of the NDC and nothing else.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia ECZ has opened campaigns in 16 wards where local Government elections are being held countrywide.

Since the political campaigns are open, there’s no need for state police to harass Dr. Kambwili for offering a radio interview.

Its unfortunate that the Lungu regime is going out of extremes to ensure that Dr. Kambwili is persecuted in every thing he is doing.

As NDC, we want to warn the Pf to leave out the private media in their political skirmishes.

Journalist should be allowed to execute and conduct their work in a free manner and environment.

Abusing and assaulting media houses simply because they allow divergent voices is unjust and uncivil.

This should never be allowed to happen in our democracy.

The NDC will not stop speaking out on the need for media freedoms and reforms in this country.

Members of the press are partners in development and should never be drawn in political battle’s.

The act by police in mansa today should be condemned by all well meaning citizens and interest grouping’s.

Issued by: Mwenya Musenge. NDC secretary General.