Zambia Media Critique

Each year in Zambia, 240, 000 young people enter the job market and join the thousands already in search of employment. The youth in Zambia have been waiting for a future that seems consistently illusive. Despite Zambia recording over the past decade an economic growth rate averaging 7% this growth has not resulted in improvements in the socio-economic conditions of Zambians. The youth crisis is more real now than at any other time in history and it can only get worse if we do not introduce radical measures. Zambia is a youthful country, with approximately 74 percent of its 14 million total population under the age of 30 (28 percent are 15 to 29 years-old). Annual population growth rate estimates range from 2.4 to 3 percent, and projections indicate a population of 24.5 million by 2030 according to the 2013 Human Development Report At a launch meeting for a youth sectoral analysis report last week, USAID Mission Director Dr Susan K. Brems, introduced a catch phrase, “youth dividen

IT is worrying that the Zambian government is increasingly using statutory sector regulatory bodies to stifle freedom of the press in Zambia and gag media houses that promote open discussion on issues of public interest. On 13 June 2014 it was reported that the Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority ZICTA had with immediate effect revoked the Frequency for Mpika Community Radio Station and confiscated the transmitter. Earlier in the month the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), was involved in the altercation, with HOT FM over a live breakfast show that discussed the issue of the President's health. This matter was eventually resolved with the arbitration of MISA Zambia with no obligation for the station to apologise as earlier directed by the statutory body. In the case of Mpika FM Radio, they lost their equipment when they tried to explain to ZICTA that they have not been paid for the Sim Registration adverts that were aired in December 2013. Mpika FM

THE Patriotic Front Government is not committed to protecting and upholding the popular will of the Zambian people with regards to the enactment of a new republican constitution. The current constitution impasse has exposed them for who they truly are. Zambians have held a consistent position on the key governance issues they want changed in the constitution that are now referred to as contentious issues. They have consistently demanded for the introduction of social-economic rights in the bill of rights, the election of a vice president as a running mate to the president, overhaul of the electoral system to provide for a popularly elected president by a threshold of at least 50+1 of total votes cast and a system of representation that also caters for disadvantaged groups. The other issues are the appointment of cabinet from outside parliament, reduction in the powers of the president and of the executive arm of government, greater parliamentary oversight in the contraction of forei

THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has allowed Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) to increase electricity tariffs for domestic consumers by 24.63 % effective July, 2014. The increment would also see tariffs for commercial consumers increase by 15.38 %, 19.49 % for small power and 5.11 % for large power while social services would pay 15.38 per cent. Private sector development specialist Yusuf Dodia earlier last week opposed the hike in electricity tariffs arguing that electricity should never be treated in commercial terms as it was a public good hence there is no need to have cost reflective tariffs as government was obliged to provide affordable energy to stabilise the economy and make life bearable for its citizens. I think this needs further debate. My view is that electricity tarrifs in Zambia need upward adjustment in order to make electricity power generation and transmission more sustainable and to attract investment in the sector. However this upward adjustment

THE depreciation of the Kwacha against major convertible currencies in recent times is unprecedented. Market analysts have complained of the lack of information and assurance from the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance which has fuelled speculation. The depreciation may further be exacerbated by the political risks associated with speculations on the heath of the republican President. Bloomberg News reported late May that Zambia’s kwacha retreated to a record low against the dollar, depreciating more than any other currency in the world in the month of May. They attributed this slump to lower copper prices and a tax dispute with mines which curbed foreign-exchange supply. The last time the Bank of Zambia explained the depreciation they attributed it to external factors. In a statement released on 29 th May, 2014 by the central bank indicated that the weakening of the Kwacha was temporal considering that copper prices were already creeping upwards. The supply of Foreign Exch

IT can no longer be denied that the situation at Times of Zambia has reached crisis stage. Workers have resolved to intensify their strike action following months of unpaid salaries. The three chapel presidents of the Zambia Union of Journalists have all resolved to down tools to press management to pay salaries accusing them of not prioritising workers interest and opting to spend on their own comforts, on retriees and legal fees. The problems at Times of Zambia are not unique, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) outgoing Director General Chibamba Kanyama lamented in his exit interview on Sunday 1st June, 2014 that salaries were a huge problem to meet at the institution. I have written here extensively on the problem of Zambia's failed media parastatals. Some opposition leaders see the crisis is an opportunity to raise their political profile by siding with the suffering journalists and other employees. United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde