Former State House press aide and lawyer Dickson Jere has advised the Media Liaison Committee (MLC) to stop criticizing the Swedish Embassy for its support of self-regulation in the media sector, pointing out that even President Hakainde Hichilema has publicly rejected statutory regulation.
In his commentary, Mr. Jere described the MLC’s focus on the Swedish mission as misplaced and unhelpful. He argued that the real challenge lies within the media industry itself, where some practitioners remain resistant to voluntary regulation. “Even President Hakainde Hichilema said he does not support it! This really has nothing to do with the Swedish government,” he emphasized.
Mr. Jere also condemned calls for punitive actions against diplomats backing self-regulation, calling such views “extreme and undemocratic.” He stressed the importance of tolerance, noting, “Instigating the deportation of someone over a difference in opinion is excessive. We must recognize that our views won’t always be widely accepted, and we should avoid punitive approaches in settling disagreements.”
He further questioned the MLC’s claim of representing the majority of journalists, suggesting that determining which group had more support within the media might offer clarity. “I’m curious to know which event attracted the most journalists—maybe that’s where the answer lies,” he noted.
Mr. Jere concluded by asserting that Zambians are capable of making independent decisions regardless of external influence. “The Swedish Embassy can support whoever they choose, but if Zambians don’t agree, they won’t adopt it,” he said.
The debate over media regulation in Zambia continues to generate strong reactions from various stakeholders.