The original
intention of government was to transform Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation ZNBC into a public service
broadcaster, accountable to the public through the legislature which is
protected against interference, particularly of a political or economic
nature. This was done through Section 4(2) of the ZNBC (Amendment) Act
No. 20 of 2002 which provided for appointment of Board Members through
an Adhoc Appointments Committee comprising members from various sectors
of society. It is common knowledge that in the light of the history of
the ZNBC, that a change of government or the ruling party entails a change in the control through the appointment of the Director and Board members of ZNBC.
I hope we do recall that the revised statute, Section (3) of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) (Amendment) Act No. 16 of 2010, abolished the 'Appointments Committee' thereby, effectively assigning the responsibility of appointing members of the ZNBC Board to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services subject to ratification by the National Assembly.
However, it must be noted here that it is a requirement for a Public Broadcaster that the process of appointing members of the Board should be set out clearly in law, be open, democratic, should not be dominated by any particular political party or commercial interest and should allow for public participation and consultation.Overall, membership should be required to be reasonably representative of society as a whole.
Thus, legislation which provides for the appointment of members of the ZNBC Board by the Minister in charge of Information and broadcasting is not open or democratic and can be said to be dominated by a particular political party.The process further does not allow for public participation or a consultation system as provided under Section 4(2) of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Act of 2002.
This places in jeopardy all the efforts by Board members and staff to manage the institution professionally for the benefit of the nation.Therefore despite recent legislation to transform ZNBC, there is more to be done to transform ZNBC to a true public broadcaster that will cater for all spectra of society in Zambia.This requires a serious commitment by government to review the media laws in Zambia, especially the laws pertaining to ZNBC.
I hope we do recall that the revised statute, Section (3) of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) (Amendment) Act No. 16 of 2010, abolished the 'Appointments Committee' thereby, effectively assigning the responsibility of appointing members of the ZNBC Board to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services subject to ratification by the National Assembly.
However, it must be noted here that it is a requirement for a Public Broadcaster that the process of appointing members of the Board should be set out clearly in law, be open, democratic, should not be dominated by any particular political party or commercial interest and should allow for public participation and consultation.Overall, membership should be required to be reasonably representative of society as a whole.
Thus, legislation which provides for the appointment of members of the ZNBC Board by the Minister in charge of Information and broadcasting is not open or democratic and can be said to be dominated by a particular political party.The process further does not allow for public participation or a consultation system as provided under Section 4(2) of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Act of 2002.
This places in jeopardy all the efforts by Board members and staff to manage the institution professionally for the benefit of the nation.Therefore despite recent legislation to transform ZNBC, there is more to be done to transform ZNBC to a true public broadcaster that will cater for all spectra of society in Zambia.This requires a serious commitment by government to review the media laws in Zambia, especially the laws pertaining to ZNBC.
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