(MISA/IFEX) – On 22 May 2000, Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare Dawson Lupunga reportedly ordered a photojournalist from the “Post” newspaper to leave a press briefing he was addressing, accusing the newspaper of “negative reporting”. According to a report in the “Zambia Daily Mail”, Lupunga ordered Sheikh Chifuwe to leave the briefing saying, […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 22 May 2000, Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare Dawson Lupunga reportedly ordered a photojournalist from the “Post” newspaper to leave a press briefing he was addressing, accusing the newspaper of “negative reporting”.
According to a report in the “Zambia Daily Mail”, Lupunga ordered Sheikh Chifuwe to leave the briefing saying, “Do you think I am mad?” He is further reported to have said, “I do not want to see any reporter from the ‘Post’ … That newspaper has never spoken good of government, they are always negative regarding government”.
Lupunga confirmed the incident to the Zambia Independent Media Association (ZIMA).
Lupunga’s reaction was apparently caused by an editorial which appeared in the “Post” on 19 May and which questioned his sanity after he was quoted by Chifuwe, who had interviewed him, as having used the “F” word. The quote was by way of the minister illustrating his frustration with disabled people for refusing government efforts to resettle them rather than have them roam city streets begging. The paper had also led with a story headlined “Lupunga resorts to dirty language” which gave details of his remarks.
“When we want to assist them and they don’t want, that’s their problem. We can’t force them to leave because they have freedom of movement… If you have a girl in bed and you don’t want to f*** her you can’t expect God to help you impregnate her”, he reportedly told Chifuwe in the interview.
In the editorial headlined “Lupunga’s language” the newspaper called for his dismissal. “There is need for President Chiluba to spare Zambians from Lupunga’s bad language or insults, which is now bordering on lunacy, by letting him go to rest”.
Chifuwe said in an interview with ZIMA that he had asked Lupunga if it was all right for him to report what he had said and the minister had not objected. He further said the minister was annoyed with the editorial and not the accompanying story.
ZIMA chairman David Simpson said, “Government officials who do not want to be criticised for their behaviour should behave in an appropriate manner. Those who are aggrieved by coverage in the media are free to lay their complaints before the media councils, which will give them a fair hearing and come to a decision accordingly.”
