MISA Zambia has lambasted Robert Chabinga the suspended PF Member of Parliament for threatening media houses of liquidation for being objective and covering the voices of other people within his group after the collapse of his relationship with Miles Sampa, the Matero legislator.
MISA Zambia has described Mr. Chabinga’s threats to journalists as a threat to democracy and the good governance of the country.
Mr. Chabinga has however apologized for his uncouth and threatening language against journalists and the media.
Mr. Chabinga is on record threatening that he will liquidate media houses that referred to Miles Sampa as PF president.
Lorraine Chisanga, MISA Zambia Chairperson said in a statement that the organisation found the threats as attacks on the efforts of the media in their role to promote democracy in the nation and against the freedom of expression a press freedom which stand as a bedrock of a democratic nation.
“MISA Zambia has found these threats intimidating and an infringement on the role of the media of educating, informing and entertaining including through news, opinion, analysis and sports reporting,” Ms Chisanga said.
She said Mr. Chabinga being a political leader should stop making reckless statements and know that the media’s responsibility was to report facts from both the accuser and the accused so that their audiences could have a fair understanding of what was happening to make informed decisions.
Ms. Chisanga said targeting the media and truth was threatening media freedom.
She said the media was the fourth estate that provided checks and balances and therefore, the general public was urged to treat the media as a stakeholder in the development of the nation.