Media law reforms: The quest to transform the Zambia national broadcasting corporation-ZNBC-From state owned and controlled media to a public service broadcaster
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Date
2013-09-25
Authors
Kajokoto, Reuben
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Abstract
Media Law Reforms in Zambia have been intensified and in the last half of the last millennium, Zambia has seen a lot of developments in the media.The focus has been to open up the market for private radio, television and newspapers and magazines. But very few efforts have been made to try and transform the only national television from being state owned and controlled to being a public service broadcaster. Despite recent legislation to transform the ZNBC, there is more to be done to transform the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation -ZNBC- to a true public broadcaster that will cater for all spectra of society in Zambia.This requires a serious review of the media laws in Zambia, specially the laws pertaining to the ZNBC.This research shows that despite the change in legislation, ZNBC will not be free from government interference and control until the politicians, especially from the ruling party enact laws that will make the ZNBC truly independent.The enactment of laws to introduce television licenses for the financing of the national media or the appointment of a board of directors by an independent committee will not guarantee the participation of all citizens.What needs to change is the ownership of the ZNBC from the state to the public. This way the ZNBC will have transformed itself from a state-owned and controlled broadcaster to a public service broadcaster.
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Mass media --Law and legislation , Freedom of the press --Zambia , Freedom of information --Zambia