(MISA/IFEX) – Zambia’s Information and Broadcasting Minister and chief government spokesman, Newstead Zimba, has stopped giving interviews to the “Post” newspaper. The minister’s position came to light on 6 April 1999 after reporter Goodson Machona went to Zimba’s office for comment on the progress of investigations into the bomb explosions which went off in Lusaka […]
(MISA/IFEX) – Zambia’s Information and Broadcasting Minister and chief
government spokesman, Newstead Zimba, has stopped giving interviews to
the
“Post” newspaper.
The minister’s position came to light on 6 April 1999 after reporter
Goodson
Machona went to Zimba’s office for comment on the progress of
investigations
into the bomb explosions which went off in Lusaka earlier this year
and
increased military patrols in the capital. Zimba’s secretary informed
the
reporter that the minister had stopped talking to the “Post” and that
the
minister would not grant an interview to the reporter. Zimba had
earlier
been identified by a police spokesperson as the only one who was
allowed to
comment on the issue at hand. According to the “Post” newspaper, three
press
queries sent to Zimba by the “Post” on various issues over the last
three
weeks remain unanswered.
Reacting to Zimba’s latest stance, the Zambia Independent Media
Association
(ZIMA) called on the minister to facilitate the work of the
independent
media in the country in line with the Windhoek Declaration.
“There is no room for an emotional approach or personal feelings in
dealing
with important information which the public needs to know,” said ZIMA
chairperson David Simpson.
