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Alert

Television crew from state-owned broadcaster harassed by crowd at opposition rally

(MISA/IFEX) - On 26 August 2006, a reporter and a cameraman working for the state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) were harassed by a crowd at a rally featuring opposition Patriotic Front (PF) President Michael Sata in the Chawama Township of Lusaka.

The reporter, Effie Mphande, and cameraman, Abraham Banda, told MISA-Zambia that Sata made comments during his address condemning the television licence fees paid to ZNBC by members of the public, saying it was an "unfair tax" which he would abolish when he came to power. He also accused ZNBC of being biased in favour of the ruling MMD in its coverage of the current election campaigns leading to presidential, parliamentary and local government polls on 28 September.

The comments appeared to have incensed the crowd, which became hostile towards the ZNBC television crew.

"When Sata left the rally, the mass of people who were behind us as we were filming surged forward and demanded that we film them. One of them grabbed the camera tripod from me and a struggle ensued. I managed to wrestle it back but momentarily lost the camera hood, which I later recovered," said Banda.

Banda said he and his colleague were forced to seek safe refuge on the platform where Sata had been addressing the rally. Sensing the growing danger, they decided to move from the rally site to a nearby clinic as they waited for transport. However, the crowd continued following them.

Banda and Mphande were given a ride to safety by some people who were also leaving the rally, sparing them from having to wait for official transport, which was late.

MISA-Zambia Chairperson Fr. Frank Bwalya condemned the harassment of the ZNBC crew.

"The incident is a violation of the right of the reporters to report freely. It is also a violation of the Electoral Code which clearly stipulates that journalists should be given unimpeded access to political meetings," he said.

The Patriotic Front, in a 6 September statement, condemned the harassment of the reporters.

"We are appealing to our cadres and supporters countrywide to exercise restraint, patience and tolerance with our brothers and sisters from the press. We also urge our cadres and supporters not to engage in acts of hooliganism, violence, intimidation and harassment," said Fresher Siwale, a party spokesperson.