SOCIALIST Party President Dr Fred M’membe has stated that the Journalism Bill must be stopped immediately, warning that it would severely undermine media freedom and cripple journalism in Zambia if enacted.
He emphasized that the legislation signals a return to the restrictive environment journalists faced under Frederick Chiluba’s presidency three decades ago.
Dr M’membe recalled that a similar attempt in 1995 was declared unconstitutional by the High Court and questioned the justification for reviving such legislation.
He argued that statutory regulation would place journalism under “house arrest” and that media freedom cannot coexist with strict regulatory controls.
He maintained that journalism should remain an open calling and dismissed claims that Zambia lacks laws regulating the press, asserting that the media is already burdened by excessive legal restrictions.
Dr M’membe stressed that meaningful democracy requires tolerance and critical debate, advocating for open dialogue rather than censorship.
