Internews and Media Training/ Consultant Mekelani Phiri (L) moderates Panos Institute of Southern Africa (PSAF) Executive Director Mr. Vusumuzi Sifile (Second from Left) as Media Consultant Francis Lungu (Second from Right) and Operation Young Vote (OYV) Executive Director Guess Nyirenda (Far Right) listen – Picture by E Ngoma-The Score Newspaper Zambia – Monday 28th November, 2022
By Scope Reporter
OPERATION Young Vote (OYV) Mr. Guess Nyirenda described the pace at which government is giving the media space to operate is at a snails pace.
Speaking this afternoon in the sidelines of the ongoing Human Rights Defenders Summit in Lusaka, Mr. Nyirenda encouraged journalists to be Human Rights Defenders, despite the current regime not doing much to open up the civic space.
Mr. Nyirenda reminded the journalists to be defenders of the people in society as they are a voice of the voiceless.
He alleged that in most cases, journalists become praise singers to particular parties and individuals in the line of duty which is unfortunate and make the source a dictator of the outcome of the news.
“The stance is very unfortunate and needs an immediate step to correct the perception that is denting the image of the nobel profession,” he disclosed.
Mr. Nyirenda urged journalists to take the profession with the seriousness it deserves and work with passion despite the poor conditions of service.
Meanwhile, Panos Institute of Southern Africa (PSAF) Executive Director Mr. Vusumuzi Sifile reminded that journalists are their to defend the rights and lives of the voiceless in society.
Mr. Sifile disclosed that their is room for improvement so that their is need to push for more as their is need to open up more space.
He said that the absence of information law is a serious dent to the journalism fraternity.
Mr. Sifile encouraged journalists to invest more in the act of human rights protection to those that are violated.
He also reminded the journalists to promote the rights of women and the many voiceless in society.
And Journalist Mr. Francis Lungu revealed that their has been an expansion on the digital point of view, though on the political point view, their has been a hinderence from the powers that be.
Mr. Lungu encouraged journalists to keep pushing as they are pushing for Access to Information (ATI) Bill.
He said that journalists need to understand the laws and need to read more as they defend more.
Scope : 28 – 11 – 2022.
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