The Media Owners Association of Zambia (MOAZ), along with several other media organizations, has strongly opposed the proposed Zambia Institute of Journalism Bill, warning that it threatens media freedom and was developed without proper consultation with key stakeholders in the industry.
The bill, which seeks to establish the Zambia Institute of Journalism, regulate the practice of journalism, and require registration of all practicing journalists, has sparked widespread concern across the media fraternity. The organizations argue that such provisions would restrict freedom of expression and undermine the independence of the press.
“We are not aware of any formal consultative process that involved the media sector in drafting this bill,” the groups stated, calling on the government to withdraw the proposed legislation immediately.
However, Chief Government Spokesperson and Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa, clarified that the bill was not initiated by the government, but by a group of private journalists. He explained that the current version is merely a layman’s draft and has been referred to the legislative committee under the Ministry of Justice for redrafting into a formal legal document, which would then be subjected to broader consultations.
“The bill as it stands now is not the final version. It is undergoing legal refinement by the Ministry of Justice to produce a professional draft suitable for stakeholder engagement,” Mweetwa said.
According to the current draft, the proposed legislation seeks to establish a regulatory framework under which no person may be employed or practice as a journalist unless registered with the Zambia Institute of Journalism. It further stipulates that anyone found practicing journalism without registration would be committing an offense, punishable by a fine not exceeding 500,000 penalty units, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
Additionally, the bill outlines that individuals seeking to practice as journalists must apply for registration through a prescribed process and pay a set fee. The institute would be mandated to approve or reject applications within 30 days of submission.
Media stakeholders continue to express concern that the bill, if passed in its current form, would set a dangerous precedent and infringe upon constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. Calls have intensified for meaningful dialogue and a self-regulatory approach that upholds professionalism without undermining press independence.