COMMENT:IS ZAMBIAN PRIVATE MEDIA UNDER THREAT?

Kenneth Eade once said "Our democracy depends on an informed citizenry to survive, Your Honor. Besides the advancement of truth, science and morality in general, the freedom of the press is a backbone of democracy. It exists to keep the government transparent, and the human instruments of government honest.”

Like it or not a day with out a news in the papers and televisions is like  a day in the wilderness in today's world.This is because media has been use as a powerful communication tool in which the 'whistle blowers' speak for the majority maligned masses of people.

To this day,media has become so influential to a point it dictates our lives through various doctrines and creeds that creep the human brain in accordance with choice of media.

In an African context ,we have generally thought of the private media as one that speaks for the many voices whose access to state supervised media equals zero in most cases.

However,to those who sympathize with the government private media is seen as  a tool for those in opposition to promote dissent and disapproval of those in government.

It can only then take logic and objectivity to read in between the lines of what role private media has a role to play in Zambia especially that as a nation we align all decision to politics.

In the aftermath of the highly contested elections on August 11,2016 with incumbent Edgar Lungu being eventually declared as winner,we have witnessed  an ugly side regionalism and media propaganda from all social media to the traditional media.

The independent Broadcasting Authority has drawn its 'first blood' blood since inception by suspending broadcast licenses for Muvi TV,Komboni Radio as well Itezhi Tezhi  Fm for what they have termed as unprofessional conduct.

One may want to argue that it is against media freedom or any dissenting views from the governments point of view. Wether misuse of freedom of the press or fight against media freedom,there is need for us to strike a balance and have a vibrant press. 

But like  Aysha Taryam said Freedom of the press can never be the licence to say anything one desires. Freedom of the press is not the freedom to slander and attack and must never be used to fight other people’s wars. It does not mean manipulating a story into speaking your views. One might think it common sense but in the world of journalism a lot of what makes sense is lost to the lure of favoritism, greed and fame. 

Sadly, in this truth-telling business truth is hard to find.

MATCH REPORT:GB FC SET SUN WITH THREE POINTS FROM SUNSET STADIUM

By Nelson Kazeze

With ‘Top of the bill’ clash involving fresh from being booted out of the lucrative CAF Confederations Cup  Zanaco FC ‘The Bankers’ and  MTN/FAZ Super League early pace setters  ‘Kalampa’ Nkana FC being postponed, the Sunset Stadium was host to a week seven clash between new money spenders Lusaka Dynamos and army sponsored Green Buffaloes.

The contest boasted of four national team players and I set out myself with a short trip to Sunset Stadium to witness who would set the sun with three points in the bag.

Green Buffaloes were missing out on dependable Adrian Chama who is out with the Futsal national team at the AFCON in south Africa and enjoying the tournament with six goals in three matches but Coach Bilton Musonda still named a strong starting eleven boasting of three Zambian internationals in Stephen Kabamba,Buchizya Mfune and captain charisma Christopher Katongo.

On the other side Coach Perry Mutapa had only one International in enterprising young Conlyde Luchanga viewed by many as ‘Zambia’s next big thing’ in his starting eleven billed for Saturday  15:00 hours local time in clash of supremacy between young talent in Lusaka dynamos and the experience in Green Buffaloes.

The teams emerged out of the changing rooms with players from both sides seen walking onto the pitch bubbling with confidence as the referees waited to blow the whistle at 15:00 hours sharp.

With the Lusaka dynamos renting the sunset stadium and acting as the home side, the onus was on enterprising Luchanga and ever improving Habasimbi Emmanuel to set the ball rolling into what was expected to be an entertaining match.

Off the whistle blew and Lusaka Dynamos were out to unsettle the experienced Bilton Musonda tutored side. Talent seemed to have prevailed over experience as the young talented players from Dynamos were seen toying around with the GB FC defence from time to time but could not find the back of the net to change the status quo of the game.

Only a handful of fans were seen in the stadium so it was up to the ‘Divas Led’ choir supporters from Lusaka Dynamos and the ‘Madalas Mixed’ choir from GB FC to provide cheers to the 22 men on the pitch.

GB FC spending most of the time on the back pedal had to rely on counter attacks to test the dynamos goalkeeper who was always looked shaky with every GB FC attempt on Goal. The counter attacking football paid off in the 44^th minute after Zambian international Jack Chirwa won a duel in the midfield to make a dashing run and a simple long range short on target that shaky Dynamos goalkeeper could not prevent from reaching the back of the net to leave the half time scores at 1-0 in favour of GB FC.

As usual the ever present soccer fan Kennedy Magrosa was seen in the stands enjoying the game. The second half resumed with Dynamos pilling more pressure on the Buchizya Mfune led backline but could not find the back of the net mostly due to a ‘Pembela Nsokele’ attitude by the front three to the anger of Coach Perry.

GB FC captain Christopher Katongo benefited from a mishap in the 18 yard box in the 52^nd minute after another ‘School Boy’ mistake by the Dynamos goalkeeper to get himself on the scoresheet with a scrambled tap in that resulted from a Marlon Gondwe long throw in.

This however could not stop the young and spirited dynamos team that continued pressing on as their ever singing choir kept on cheering the youthful team.

Enterprising Luchanga who has been seemingly out of form emerged from his shell and showed flashes of brilliance that paid off in no time with GB FC conceding a penalty in the 78^th minute. Luchanga’s exploits could however not be turned into heroics as he took a ‘simple penalty’ that GB FC goalkeeper Silavwe Geoffrey easily saved to leave the scores at 2-0 in favour of the army sponsored side.

However it was only a matter of time before Luchanga could turn himself into a hero from zero with a top right corner thunderbolt that the GB FC keeper could only pick from the back of the net for Luchanga’s first goal of the league to make the scores at 2-1 with only four minutes left before the end of ninety minutes.

As the loud and ever singing Dynamos choir stepped up their singing skills with ‘beautiful’ dances, the last minutes of the match turned into a boring affair with GB FC players falling over unnecessarily to prevent the ever pressing Dynamos team from equalising.

At ninety minutes the referee blew the whistle to signal the supremacy of experience over talent as Dynamos continued on their winless streak.

As the sun set Buffaloes team drove away in their Higer bus with three points in the bag from the Sunset stadium.

Junior Golfers Lacked Exposure-ZGU

By Nelson Kazeze

THE Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) has attributed the poor performance of junior golfers at the just ended Africa junior golf Championship to lack of exposure.

In an interview, ZGU director of junior golf Chongo Kasongo who expressed disappointment at the performance of the junior golfers said the golfer were not exposed prior to the tournament hence the poor performance.

Kasongo said ZGU had however drawn positives from the performance adding that better preparation would help the golfer in future.

“The performance was disappointing but under the circumstances we think they did their level best. We need to expose them more for such tournament in future so that they can withstand the pressure that comes with playing at the international stage, ”Kasongo said.

Kasongo said the junior golfers lacked experience except for Patrick Mwendapole junior who had a consistent performer at the Africa junior championship.

“They were psychologically not ready because they are not experienced. Most of them are novices except for Patrick (Mwendapole Junior) who got the best ranking among our golfers.

And Kasongo said the junior team that represented Zambia would be kept together and given more training and support to help build a senior team adding that talent among junior golfers was abundant but just needed nurturing.

Zambia finished in eighth position at the Africa Junior golf Challenge in Tunisia with Zambia best performer, Patrick Mwendapole junior, ranking 20^th out of the 36 players that competed at the tournament.

MY TEAM IS READY TO BATTLE ZIMBABWE-KACHINGA

  

By Nelson Kazeze

SHEPOLOPOLO coach Albert Kachinga says his team is psychologically and physically prepared ahead of the Zimbabwe game in the second round of Africa Women Championship (AWC) slated for Cameroon.

In an interview, Kachinga said the psychological aspect of players had been dealt with
by the technical bench adding that playing the first leg away from home was not a problem as his team had now learnt to withstand pressure when playing away

“Psychologically and physically the players are prepared and I must say the psychological aspect of playing away from home is no longer an issue to the girls as they now know our target in this championship, ”he said.

Kachinga said having played Zimbabwe before in the Olympic qualifiers, his team was aware of the challenge and task ahead.

Zimbabwe beat Zambia during the Olympic qualifiers.

He said the team would not allow Zimbabwe to beat it twice because they also want to take part in the AWC in Cameroon.

And Kasongo said Shepolopolo will this Wednesday play the under-20 men team of OYDC as they prepare for the game against Zimbabwe.
“I would love us to participate in the AWC in Cameroon and will do everything possible to prepare the girls adequately for the huge clash
against Zimbabwe.