Anthony Kunda in Lusaka
The detention of former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda in connection with the botched military putsch of October 28 last year has brought frustrating privations for journalists.
The government has not introduced any new legislation to restrict the media. But the police seem to have become paranoid, especially about journalists from independent and foreign media.
Journalists have been subjected to rigorous and intimidating searches before entering the courtroom to cover Kaunda’s habeas corpus hearing, which has been running for two weeks.
Last week, police denied three foreign correspondents — Jowie Mwiinga (Reuters), Katongo Chisupa (Agence France Presse) and Musengwa Kayaya (Pana African News Agency) — from entering the court, saying the courtroom was packed.
In the same week, a Cable News Network (CNN) team had a rough time when police suspected them of having filmed Kaunda in court. Filming or photographing is not allowed in Zambian courts of law. The police swooped on crew members, and cameraperson Amy Merz was assaulted by one of the constables struggling to grab her camera.
Early this week, Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) wrote a letter of protest to President Frederick Chiluba over the harassment of journalists by police.
Presidential representative Richard Sakala, information minister David Mpamba, and foreign minister Keli Walubita have all expressed displeasure at the manner in which CNN and other foreign media have covered the arrest of Kaunda.
In a related development, Fred M’membe, editor of the independent newspaper The Post, has been summoned — along with human rights lawyer Lucy Sichone and civic rights activist Alfred Zulu — by Lusaka High Court Judge James Mutale for criticising the grounds of the restriction imposed on Kaunda.
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