By Gertrude Purity Chanda
The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) says President Hakahinde Hichilema’s support for self regulation of the media is very categorical and must be respected.
During a briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Amos Chanda, a member of the UPND media team and former press aide for President Edgar Lungu, said there’s no need for statutory regulation of the media in Zambia.
He said media regulation should be based on a moral judgment call from journalists rather than statutory regulation.
Mr Chanda reminded all media stakeholders that the existing laws are enough to guide the practice of journalism, rather than pushing for the licensing of journalists.
“Those are dangerous waters to tamper with. Leave the media alone, let’s not tamper with them. The sacredness of the profession should be preserved. We can cure the imperfections through other means,” said Mr Chanda.
Despite President Hichilema’s clear message that he’s in support of media self-regulation, the Media Liaison Committee has continued to push for statutory regulation of journalists which seeks to introduce licensing of journalists, among other measures which the majority of journalists have rejected.
©️Zambia Reports, May 5, 2025.