KAWANA ASSURES MEDIA THAT GOV’T WILL NOT CLOSE ANY MEDIA HOUSE AS LONG AS THEY ADHERE TO LAID DOWN PROCEDURES
Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary THABO KAWANA has assured the media that the UPND government will not close any media house as long as the institutions adhere to the laid down code of ethics.
Mr KAWANA stressed that government is committed to media freedom therefore, no cadre will harass media staff or threaten to close down any media outlet.
Mr KAWANA has however urged media houses not to allow people to use the station to promote hate speech and other programmes that promote division.
The Permanent Secretary was speaking when he visited Radio Mano community Station in Kasama on Saturday.
And Mr KAWANA has disclosed that his ministry is in advanced talks with the Ministry of Small Medium Enterprises Development to see how best media institutions can be helped in mitigating the effects of load shedding.
Mr KAWANA said the two ministries are working out modalities on how media houses can access Citizens Economic Empowerment Funds to enable them procure solar equipment for the smooth running of their institutions.
Speaking earlier, Radio Mano Community Station Manager KENNEDY MBULO called on the government to support media institutions with solar panels in mitigating the power crisis that is affecting operations of media houses.
He further urged government to operationalize the Access to Information Law for it to be effective.
Radio Mano