(MISA/IFEX) – The “Post” newspaper is back on sale after a two-day disruption caused by a breakdown of its web offset printing machine, and without the help of the government-owned printers, the only other printers able to print the paper. “Post” editor-in-chief Fred M’membe told the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) that his technicians had […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The “Post” newspaper is back on sale after a two-day disruption caused by a breakdown of its web offset printing machine, and without the help of the government-owned printers, the only other printers able to print the paper.
“Post” editor-in-chief Fred M’membe told the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA) that his technicians had managed to improvise on the burnt-out main motor by using a disused motor vehicle engine, mounted on a vehicle chassis, to drive the printing press. This innovation facilitated the printing of the 7 July edition, as well as subsequent ones.
BACKGROUND:
On 5 and 6 July, the “Post” failed to appear on the streets because of the breakdown of its printing press. M’membe said efforts to get alternative printers such as the state owned “Zambia Daily Mail”, which is the only other company in Lusaka with a web-offset printer, had been met with bureaucratic hurdles. Despite assurances from Minister of Information Newstead Zimba that he had given written directives to “Daily Mail” managing editor Godfrey Malama to print the newspaper on a “commercial basis”, this had come to nothing. Malama denied receiving any directives from Zimba to help in printing the newspaper.
