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Chief government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili says government is deeply concerned with the continued irresponsible misrepresentation of facts by the Post newspaper that threaten national security.
Mr. Kambwili who was reacting to yesterday’s Post newspaper lead story alleging that Government has hidden a $192 million loan obtained from China said the statement was not only misleading but an attempt to make the public think that government was hiding something.
Speaking during a press briefing at his residence in Luanshya yesterday, Mr. Kambwili who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services noted that the issue was of national security and therefore was not for public discussion.
He noted that it was irresponsible of the Post newspaper to disclose the matter knowing that it was of national security adding that even the access to information bill clearly stipulated that it was not all information that should be disclosed to the press or public.
Mr. Kambwili said the Patriotic Front party when it formed government declared that it would make public every matter discussed by Cabinet but that did not include matters of national security.
“Even if government sat and discussed this loan, there was no way it would have brought this matter to the general public because the issues contained therein are issues of a high security nature” , he said.
He has with immediate effect directed the Police to take keen interest in the matter and bring the culprits to book, and further warned civil servant leaking sensitive information to the public that government would soon catch up with them.
The Chief government spokesperson also observed that such irresponsible conduct by media houses was the reason why successive governments did not enact the access to information bill.
Mr. Kambwili further appealed to the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) which he said was now toothless to play its role in regulating the print media.
He noted that the media was slowly losing its ethical standards in their reporting and that government would be forced to regulate it.
Arrest them. That’s a security issue.
No transperency in this government. They get the loan in the name of the Zambian people and the Zambians are obligged to pay it so why hide it. Unless if they intend to divert it to their pockets. Its the same as someone getting a loan on your behalf and when you discover they tell police to arrest you. Foolish thinking and what a government we have.
can you imagine?maybe they wanted to share it amongst themselves(politicians ).this is the reason I don’t trust politicians.