Malupenga threatens irresponsible media

Government has vowed not to take kindly to any media institution that will be publishing misleading and unresearched information so as to cause alarm and instability in the country.

Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga said the role of the media was to objectively inform their audiences about what was happening in the country and beyond so that people can make informed decisions.

Mr. Malupenga said government was however still committed to the promotion of media freedom by allowing media institutions to operate without interference.

He said this in a speech read for him by Ministry of Information Acting Director for Planning, Press and Public Relations, Beaton Kaluba at the 10th anniversary of Breeze FM Radio station and launch of the radio station’s expansion programme and internet broadcasting services in Chipata last evening.

He said his ministry was concerned about the way some media players were taking advantage of government’s kindness by publishing malicious, defamatory and false stories about some private citizens and government in general.

Mr. Malupenga stated that this was not the type of media freedom government wants to be associated with as it was both unprofessional and unethical.

He congratulated Breeze FM on its 10th anniversary and appealed to its management and staff to continue working with all stakeholders in providing useful information to the public.

Meanwhile, Breeze FM Managing Director Michael Daka said his station has made the people in both urban and rural parts of Chipata district one of the most well informed in local and international affairs.

Mr. Daka, who is also the founder of Breeze FM, disclosed that through its expansion programme, the station has doubled its radius over the last 10 years.

He also revealed that the station has an average audience of about one million listeners adding that this was a huge responsibility.

Mr. Daka however bemoaned lack of financial support from local companies for the station to meet transmission costs.

And Eastern Province Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary Zachariah Luhanga said the station was a platform for government to know how people were reacting to various projects which it was implementing in the district.

Mr. Luhanga has since pledged government’s support in helping the station expand its programming so that more local people can benefit than before.